SMALL FARMS SCHEME

Evening Star, Issue 21721, 16 May 1934, Page 3

SMALL FARMS SCHEME

5-ACRE PLAN NOT SUCCESSFUL fP*» Uhitsd Pssm Amociatiok.] NAPIER, May 15. 1 am in full agreement that the land offers the major opportunity of overcoming the problem of unemployment, and i am satisfied a man is better off with a home in the country, where he has a few acres of land, than he is with a home in town, where he has to pay rent,” said tho Minister of Lands (Mr Hansom), replying to a deputation from the Mayor’s Central Planning Committee in connection with an extension of the small farms scheme in the Hastings district. The experience of the Small Farms Board in connection with five-acre blocks, he said, had not been entirely satisfactory, more particularly in districts where no seasonal work was available. In the main the five-acre scheme had not been a success, and in many cases the areas had had to be increased to enable the holders to make even a partial living. The board had been endeavouring to establish men on holdings of sufficient area to enable them to maintain their families. Where fruit growing was taken up a man could Jive on a- much smaller area. The question of tho weekly rental was important, and he regarded the amount of 10s that was being paid here as satisfactory. If the weekly rental of from five to ten acres was in the vicinity of £1 it was getting too high. For that money the Government was establishing men on areas of 100 acres, where they could maintain themselves.

Mr Ranson stated that success depended largely upon the personal element —an element over which the board had little control. One speaker, said Mr Ransom, had stated that without the help of the Government the committee could not do anything, but this he considered was not necessary. He cited a case in tho Waikato district, where those responsible did not wait for the Government or the Unemployment Board, but got to work and. raised £20,000 in cash, and excellent work was being done there. “ The Government is being constantly criticised for interference in business, and on the other hand we are being urged to come in and take part,” said Mr Ransom. “ Any assistance I am able to give tho committee I will bo happy to give. I am satisfied that starting a canning factory would create a great deal of work. In regard to the control and conduct of these settlements, I agree that there should be a local .committee, as the personal touch is being lost through the scheme being run entirely by the department. Mr Ransom, in touching upon the question of finance, said that the issuing of debentures would be a simple matter if they were to be State guaranteed. In carrying on a small farms scheme the board had not been hampered with finance, and he did not think it would be in future. If a settlement could be brought about without reference to the Government it would be a great deal better than that where the public account was responsible for the charges. The Mayor (Mr G. A. Maddison), thanking the Minister for receiving the deputation, said ho was of the opinion that the Government should set up an advisory board to confer with tbo Unemployment Board on the question nf unemployment. Sucli a board would give a'big help to tho Government in this important matter.