VIGOUR AND VISION

Evening Star, Issue 20256, 17 August 1929, Page 15

VIGOUR AND VISION

MOT WORDS IN A BUDGET LABOURITE ON LAND SETTLEMENT _______ * [TTiion: Our Parliamektaux Eeposter.3 WELLINGTON. August IG. The unemployed sVuld ho properly organised for development of the millions of acres of the. dominion’s waste land, stated Air Loe Alartin (Raglan),‘ in tbh House to-day. He could, he said,' seo the opportunity' in’tho'Budget -s<» long as there was a man at the head who would energise the- whole thing. There was no reason why the millions of acres of pumice land in the North Island should not bo brought into productivity. Tho unemployed should bo put to work clearing up these, waste areas, fencing, and getting them readv for the plough. He had seen a lot of money wasted on relief works, men being employed in cutting down hills just for something to do. ,If the same money had been applied to tho development* of idle land's there would have been some inspiration to these men to work. Tho Finance Minister had stated in his Budget that the country’s economic difficulties wore duo to neglect to foster land settlement, and to that extent it was evident that tho opportunity was recognised. Ho much preferred this method,.of developing waste lands to the purchase of Westell a Estate at £55 per acre, because it was doubtful if settlors could make more from it than tho former owner.

Air Forbes (Minister of Lands) : Wo are turning a sheep farm into ingMr Martin concluded by acknowledging the capacity of the Minister of Works in relation to land settlement, for ho was well able to recognise tbo importance of proper road access. He urged the Minister not to allow himself to lio ruled by the land boards, which, in his experience, did little to encourage struggling settlers. Ho hoped to see the land policy made the livest part of the Budget, ff so, ho and his colleagues were prepared to help ; hut unless, tho Government was prepared to move taster, and not contine' its land policy to words in a Budget. it would not he long before the people would call on someone with vision and energy to operate tbo. land policy that New Zealand was demand* ing.