SMALL FARMS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 132, 7 June 1933, Page 7

SMALL FARMS

SETTLEMENT SCHEME

AID TO PROSPERITY

ABSORBING UNEMPLOYED

In an address delivered last evening to the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Mr. G. Mitchell outlined, a scheme of land settlement - in nioderate'-sized and small holdings which he asserted would do much to overcome the unemployment difficulty, and bring about general prosperity. , Mr. Mitchell said the Dominion Settlers' League had been formed with headquarters in Wellington, the present members being largely composed of tha better class of unemployed. The league had very definite proposals which it was considered would place every man/ who was prepared to work in employment at current wages, thus immediately relieving the community of tha present unemployed tragedy, and save six to seven millions annually in relief taxation. The .League also believed that the wheels of commerce and industry could be immediately started again by internal effort, quite apart from world economic conditions. His experience was, said Mr. Mitchell, t,hat about 85 per cent, of the unem- ' ployed were excellent citizens. Tha members of the League were anxious about the position because there wera certain elements of unrest and discontent now in existence, and it was natural that that should be so. .Tha members of the League were of opinion that practically, all of our troubles could be settled inside this country. They believed we could have internal prosperity in spite of low prices. During' a moderate period there had been a loss - of 22,000 men from the land and from; factories. The present was the time t»: do something which would assist in reviving prosperity. The speaker re-, marked that we lived in aY favoured; land^—aland flowing over with everything that was necessary for human: happiness, arid there : should be .no1/ poverty here. In many parts of tha: country there were areas of idle of-semi-idle land; on the other.hand, thera': were idle men waiting to' work tha; land. The League proposed that there"should be compulsory settlement of tha. land to the extent of 5000 acres a year for four years. In four years we would; thus absorb more than the whole of; the unemployed, and it would " meancreating such, internal prosperity that:. we would require more people in this; country. It was not proposed to buy the land because' New Zealand ?s experience, in the past had bfeen'that such « system was very costly and unsatisfactory. It was not intended to interfcr*:with the present titles..- ft ,was. notdesirable to take a man from Otagai; and send him to the .north of Auckland; it was desired that the unemployed men should.be absorbed in their,owii district. • .■■;.-. FIFTY-ACRE SECTIONS. r Referring to the1 system of settlement, Mr. Mitchell said it was proposed/ that, say, an area of 1000 acres should. be divided into ten sections of 50 acres} each. The land could be sold or leased." Of course a house and implements would : bo required on each section. The pro-r posal was that the Government should^ issue Treasury notes to. enable improve-". ments to be made, which notes should be legal tender, over, a definite period, r The occupies of the section would be'; called upon to pay off the amount in; : the specified period at the rate of about--2J per cent, off the principal and \ peri cent, for working cost. There wouldi be no charge for interest. -' In other = words, a man would be given extended" credit over a period of years to enabl« T: him to make improvements. It was_ contended that under this scheme, thar; owner would be placed in a better posi*: tion'than he was today. , £ Mr. 'Mitchell said the League main-] tamed that we should settle the, land,: whether privately or publicly owned, mi such a. way that no injustice would b»j done to the present owners of the land.-; Mr. J. H. Whittaker said he would 1 like to have further,-information in J regard to the position of the present : owner of the land. It was resolved by the council that--Mr. Mitchell be requested to outline:; the League's scheme in writing so that-; it coiild be studied by members of th» Chamber of Commerce.