SMALL FARMS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 106, 8 May 1933, Page 9

SMALL FARMS

PUSHING THE SCHEME

GOVERNMENT'S DESIRE

The desire of the Government td expedite the settlement of unemployed men under the Small Farms (Belief of Unemployment) Act-was stressed by the Minister of Lands (the Hon. E. A. Ransom),in a statement issuedat the weekend. Mr. Ransom said the Government was very anxipus to expedite the settlement of unemployed men under the Act, and every effort was being made in that direction. ' The Small Farms Board had been set up, and the board's first duty was to set up local committees to assist it in. the administrar tion of the scheme. Such committees would be appointed at an early date. Attention had also to be given to the uecessary regulations, forms, etc., and tho establishment of the organisation, all of which were well under way. "This,M said tho Minister, "of course,i does, not mean that the work is at a standstill in the meantime, as the Departments of Lands and Survey'and Agriculture are co-operating in regard to propositions under the former scheme (generally spoken of as the ten-acre scheme), and will continue to do so in connection with the ' operations under the Act passed last' session. It is therefore competent for any unemployed man eligible for relief to make application by.filling in the necessary form, which is procurable at the post office, and lodging it with the nearest certifying officer, i.e., an officer of the Labour Department or a postmaster, who in turn submits it to the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the district. FINDING THE LAND. "The application will be duly recorded, and it will be- the duty of the board to find sufficient Crown or private land to settle as many of the applicants as possible. Special action in this connection is now being taken. In some cases an owner makes an offer of part of his farm and' nominates an unemployed man .as lessee. If applicants can arrange with an owner for tho lease of a suitable area at a reasonable price, much assistance.: will be afforded the board. I desire to stress this feature of the business, as by following this suggestion- tho • unemployed man can assist both himself and the board^ and greatly facilitate consideration of his application.." Mr. Ransom said, lie wishett to pay a tribute to those men who had spent both time and money while acting on the advisory committees under the former scheme. "The Government," the Minister continued, -"wiM be pleased if these gentlemen will continue to act in an advisory capacity, and submit suggestions and recommendations to the local committees, which are shortly to be sot up. These committees wili investigate and submit to the board for consideration a report on the proposals. In. this way the board will have the benefit of recommendations from men with local: knowledge. . ■■■■■■■ ' i CKOWN LANDS LIMITED. "As is well known, Crown ■/. lands available for disposal under the scheme are limited in extent and quality, but my department,will carefully consider all lands which may become available from time to time; Seeing that the Crown lands are limited, the success of the scheme will largely depend on tho amount of. priyate land that can be acquired on lease with right of purchase; at a reasonable rent and price. In order to assist in tho • scheme, I would ask all owners who have lands available, and who are prepared to lease at reasonable rentals with right of purchase to submit particulars to the Commissioner of Crown Lands for tho district. .. : "The Act provides for the compulsory acquisition by way of lease of private lands, but it is hoped that sufficient areas will be available at reasonable valuations by negotiation and thus obviate the necessity for compulsion."