LAND SETTLEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 114, 10 November 1933, Page 12

LAND SETTLEMENT

GOVERNMENT'S POLICY

SMALL FARM PLAN

The Government's land development policy was dealt with at some length by -Miv Coates.

"The additional capital provided for this purpose," he said, "is being invested under the supervision of the Lands Development Board and satisfactory progress is being made under a programme aimed at the development of 26,000 acres of various blocks. Of this area some 16,000 acres are now in new grass, while a further 9000 acres are in various stages of development. At times upwards of one thousand men have been engaged in fencing, roading, and cultivation, and at the present time over two hundred men are employed on the ' various blocks. Apjproxiniately £286,000 has been expended on development operations and on roading works, surveys, etc. "One of the most interesting areas is the Ngaknru Block of over 14,000 acres, near Eotorua, where light pumice country, typical of large areas hitherto regarded as incapable of economic development, is being successfully converted into dairying land. Excellent pasture has been established, and tho demonstration farm run on the block by the Lands Development Board has returned a profit after interest has been charged on the capital involved. The average butterfat return per cow on this farm was 2391b. The block will provide about fifty dairy farms, and it is proposed to offer the bulk of the land.for selection early next year. THE GALATEA ESTATE. "I might also mention that on the Galatea Estate of 22,000 acres a good deal of improvement work has been effected, and it is proposed to offer twenty sections in February, 1934, not loss than thirty sections early in 1935, and a similar number in succeeding years until the whole estate has been settled. A demonstration farm is being established, and the remainder of the estate is at present being run as a mixed farm with satisfactory results. The prospects for successful settlement of this estate are considered to be very bright. "In addition to developing large blocks of land prior to cutting up for settlement, advances are being made by the Lands Development Board to. individual settlers who have taken up undeveloped -.Crown land. .To date ap-

proxhnatoly. £188,000 has been advanced to 435 selectors, and the scheme which is being closely supervised by the board, is giving good results in the development of unimproved country and a consequent increase in production. Settlers generally arc meeting the charges on their loans in a satisfactory manner. NATIVE LANDS. "Development and improvement of Native lands is o!so being pushed forward, the work being carried out under two distinct systems according to the naturo and size of the holdings and the willingness of the Nativo communities to co-operate in their efforts. In the North Auckland peninsula, for instance, where the Native landsare widely scattered in more or less small areas, the assisted unit system is adopted. Under this systom, where the property is sui6able for development,' the occupier is provided with the materials required, and tho development work is carried out under supervision, in most cases without wages or other payment, according to the plan of work laid out for him by the Department's field officers. "The other system adopted, where there is a large area of unoccupied or partially occupied land, consists of development in a comprehensive manner by the Department's own workmen under the direction and supervision of departmental officers. The workmen are drawn from tho owners of tho lands being dealt with, but in some cases colonies of trained workmen have been introduced from other districts with the consent of the owners of tho land in order that the local men may receive instruction in such work as fencing and cultivation. As it requires .'at.least two years to bring virgin land to the point of production, the men thus receive an agricultural training for that, period. When tho land is ready for stocking with dairy herds, subdivision into suitable areas is proceeded with, and selected workmen placed on the sections as milkers on wages for another two years. The operations have not yet reached the third stage1, which will consist of a further period as share milkers. All workmen will, it is anticipated, in this way receive a farm training over. & period of five or six years, after .which they are expected to .be qualified, to work their sections successfully. "At March 31, 1933, there were 1050 separate holdings in active production either under the assisted unit system or being carried on by selected wage milkers, and this, number, will be considerably increased. each year as the development of the land iiow in hand is completed.and selections are made ready for stocking. The' number of cows'being■ milked during: the. present season exceeds twenty thousand. SMALL PAEM'PLAN. "The third phase of land development is being carried out under the small farm. plan. As members are aware, the object of this plan is the settlement 'of unempjoyed workers on the land, thereby providing them with_ a permanent occupation in our basic industries, wnere their efforts will indirectly, assist in providing work for other persons at present unemployed. It has taken some time to overcome initial difficulties, and get things moving. .As from the opening of the current, financial year, however,' the administration of the scheme, has' been taken in hand by a Small Farms Board working in close collaboration-with .the existing organisation in both ■. field and office of the Lands and Survey Department. "A^l suitable Crown land has been set aside for the purpose,/ but, unfortunately/ there is not a great deal of idle Crown land that: is suitable. Aeccrfdiugly, for the,success of the scheme, it is essential that private lands held in too large areas should be more, readily made available, but to date the response by owners has been disappointing, and the Government.may have to give consideration to ,recourse to the powers of compulsory acquisition provided for in the '■ Small Farms (Belief of Unemployment) Act, 1932-33. In some cases whero large ■ areas are held the board is reconditioning the deteriorated land, in consideration of which the owners cede portions to the Crown for settlement. The scheme is to be extended as much as possible. '' There ' is, however, one very satisfactory feature of the scheme, and that is the immediate absorption of unemployed on land development work. The Small Farms Board has in hand tho improvement of areas aggregating 30,000 acres, which when subdivided should provide for over 280 families. In addition, it has in prospect for development some 13,000 acres, which should provide for the ultimate settlement of approximately 200 families. At tho present time over four hundred men are engaged on development work, and, with the extension at present taking place, the coming summer should see upwards of iIOO men on definitely reproductive work. The number of sections ultimately available will, unfortunately, not be sufficient to cater for all the workers, but the future holders of the areas will be selected from those who have proved their/ability during the development operations. "Briefly summarised* the.net results of the small farm scheme from its inception are as follows: — -. As at From April April 15, to Nov. 1, , 1933. 1933. Number of small holdings , approved " •••• ißs li 9 Number of sharemllklng ap- ■ . plications approved 265 aO Number--*'of Individual holdings Iri prospect, Including those on blocks being de- „„ voloped •••••' ~ 4SO