FUTURE OF THE LAND IN ENGLAND.

Evening Star, Issue 22229, 6 January 1936, Page 6

FUTURE OF THE LAND IN ENGLAND.

“ Back to the land ” is a cry that is ever again raised in many a country as a solution of its economic difficulties. It has been raised in Great Britain in recent years. Enthusiasts who havfe noted the success of the allotments schemes urge a wholesale setting up of small holdings as a solution of the problem of unemployment, and generally as a desirable scheme for the welfare of the country as a whole. New Zealand producers who rely so much on Home markets tend to get uneasy when such is proposed. They may therefore be relieved to know that the evidence seems to show that it would by no means be an economic proposition for England to attempt to bring into being a large number of small farmers. Recently Lord Astor, in association with Mr B. Seebohm Rowntree, asked a selected group of authorities, picked by their learning and interest, both general and technical, to inquire into the possibilities of the small-holding. Can the small-holding be made a remedy, even in small part, for unemployment? Their conclusions have been condensed and published in a report entitled ‘ The Agricultural Dilemma.’ It is interesting to note that the answer is an emphatic negative. A very close analysis was made of the possibilities of both greater consumption and greater exclusion of foreign supplies, which would add value to the produce of home farms. The prospects, however, it is judged ; could not at the very best provide a new race of smallholders with any stable hope of a moderate livelihood. The changes in the art and craft of farming are not in favour even of the existing smallholders. Those are many, and it is estimated supply 11 per cent, of home produce; but even where most flourishing their state is often precarious, and would be made more precarious by any artificial increase in their numbers.

Tho committee goes even further and estimates that there will in the future be not only no increase but even a* decrease in the number of rural workers. Tho truth is that those who desire and are fit for the work of making a complete living from the laud are comparatively few in a country and in an era that is still industrial and must remain so. Tho attractive dream of a nation of farmers must be reckoned a dream. The golden age is not to be reached by a return to the past. We must look forward and not back. Sir William Beach Thomas, commenting on, the report,

recurrent, hitherto ineradicable, belief that men and women can be planted out on the land like seedling cabbages and be expected to grow a great heart within half a season has done infinite harm, and is doing more at this moment. . . . For it prevents con-

centration on wiser and more farreaching plans of* development. The land—in Britain, at any rate—is likewise often a bad master, but always a good servant. Born farmers in a good district ply the best of all professions, whether they cultivate a few acres or many. But such facts give no argument whatever for the intensive colonising of British acres by those who are not to the manner born.” He points out, however, that though England may not be a nation of farmers she may be a nation of gardeners. “ The land can increase employment, but not diminish the number of unemployed.” It is good for the out-of-work to be working on allotments, getting healthy exercise, and making barren leisure profitable. As a part-time occupation, and as a means of maintaining industrial condition of morale, such small farming is of value, but not as a means of livelihood, only supplementing other resources. The report is considered an authoritative pronouncement as regards Great Britain. We are not sure it has not also some bearing on'the possibility of payable small farms in New Zealand.

Mr J. Thorn, M.P. for Thames, stated on Saturday that the Minister of Public Works (Mr Semple) was giving sympathetic consideration to a request for the early construction of an aerodrome at Thames. Mr Semple bad also undertaken to inquire into the representations for the construction of an aerodrome at Whangamata, the most southern port on the eastern side of the Coromoudel Peninsula, 23 miles north-east of Waihi. Mr Thorn said that Mr Philip Williamson, a member of the Thames County Council and a resident of Whangamata, had offered to give 100 acres for the purpose. Mr John Edmond, of Surrey Hills, Melbourne, a former resident of Dunedin, whose generosity to the inmates and staff of the Batchelor Maternity Hospital and the St. Helen’s Hospital over the Christmas season has already been recorded, also arranged lor the distribution of fruit, sweets, and gifts among the inmates and staff of the Salvation Army “ Redroofs ” Maternity Hospital. In addition, Mr Edmond sent fruit and gifts to the inmates and staff of the Salvation Anny Industrial Homo at Cnversham. So far as notifiable diseases are concerned, the position has been quiet over the holidays, and the Public Health Officer (Dr M'Kibbon) stated this morning that there had been nothing to report other than the usual cases of scarlet fever and diphtheria. Nothing further had been reported concerning the cases of pneumonic influenza in. Southland. Two handsome and ar.tistio mosaicenshrined memorial altars, erected to the memory of Archbishop Redwood, were unveiled by Archbishop O’Shea at hte Basilica in Hill street, Wellington, yesterday. The Basilica was crowded, and the sermon preached by Father Macarthy resolved itself into a finelyexpressed discourse on the relationship of the Church to art. —Press Association.

Motorists have every reason for strong disapproval of the steep stretch of road that- leads into the bush track to Maori Hill by Way of Lynwood avenue. Absence of water channels has resulted in the deterioration of the road’s surface, _ which is traced with deep corrugations, some easily a quarter of an inch deep and veritable chassis destroyers. The bend immediately before the entrance to the bush track could be greatly improved; indeed, the only solution to the road’s reformation appears to bo a liberal coat of tar-sealing and the formation of proper water channels.

About 70 excursionists from all parts of New Zealand who journeyed to Rarotonga by the Maunganui returned to Wellington to-day by the Makura. They spent three interesting days on the island visiting the principal scenic attractions, many or them displaying interest in the work on the various plantations.—Press Association.

Tired but happy crowds of holidaymakers returned to the city over the week-end, ready to start the work of a new year this morning. The popularity of the seaside resorts on the coast north of Dunedin was shown by the very large complement in the seaside train that reached here last night, there being nearly 900 people aboard. The train was fairly full when it left Pu teraki, but Warrington, Waitati, Purakanui, and other places added their quotas, a large', number haring to stand. Add to ' the number aboard, those who returned home by cars, and it will be seen that thousands of people must have spent the holiday season on the north line.

The War Pensions Appeal Board commenced a sitting in Dunedin 1 today, and will probably be engaged here for several weeks. The chairman of the board is Sir Walter Stringer, and the local members are Dr G. Barnett and Dr W. J. Porteous.

The Napier Air Board’s levy of 2s 6d for every visiting aeroplane which lands’ at the Napier aerodrome was criticised by Flying-officer W. H. Lett, instructor to the Waikato branch of the Auckland Aero Club, when he landed at Napier recently with a passenger. He said that such a levy was opposed to the principle _ of doing everything to encourage flying in the Dominion, and, in future, when taking a passenger from the Auckland district to Napier he intended to land at Hastings. He added that a member of the Waikato branch of the Auckland Aero Club had spent about £IO,OOO in providing the borough of Hamilton with a landing ground on which there was no landing charge, and now is received an average of about 14 visiting aeroplanes a month.

Of four eclipses which will occur this year, three will be visible in the Dominion. On Thursday will occur the first phenomenon of 1936, a lunar eclipse which will be visible in New Zealand. Umbral eclipse will begin at 4.28 a.m. At 5.58 the moon will be completely immersed in the earth’s shadow, and the totality will continue until 6.21 a.m. The moon will then begin to move out of the shadow. A total eclipse of the sun f scheduled for June 19, will not be visible in New Zealand, but on July 5 a pilrtial eclipse of the moon will lie seen. On this occasion slightly more than a quarter of the moon’s apparent diameter will be obscured at maximum phase between 3.56 and 5.53 a.m. The annular eclipse of the sun, which will take place on December 14, will be seen only in Australia and New Zealand. Beginning at sunrise at Broome, Western Australia, the annular phase will be visible in the greater part of the Auckland province, while the rest of New Zealand, the 'greater part of Australia, and southern Pacific Islands nail gee & jtagi&aj eolinsa,

In the membership campaign contest between the Returned Soldiers’ Associations of Dunedin and of Christchurch the figures at January 1 were:—Dunedin 2,341, Chiistchurch 2,260. A Wellington Association message states that a iobot information machine, the first' of the kind in New Zealand or Australia, has been installed at the G. 1.0. The numbers run to 50. On pressing a button there shoots into sight a large card with full details. Until tie novelty wears off the machine is expected to be much in demand. Eventially it will greatly ease the work at the information counter.

Although the csr in which they were travelling was bally damaged when it was struck broadade on by a tram at St. Kilda early lait evening, the eight passengers escaped serious injury. One little girl received minor injuries to the wrist. The car was travelling across Prince Albert road from Market street into Council street|when it was met by a city-bound traral Guideless ascents of Mount Cook (12,349 ft), Mount; Malte Bran (10,421 ft), Mount EliejDe Beaumont (10,200 ft), and the Hinarets (10,058 ft) were made during I the holidays by a party of Christchurch climbers, Messrs S. tl. Barnett, L; R. Hewitt, and Wvn Barnett, meilbers of the Canterbury Mountaineering Club, who spent nine clays in'the Hermitage region. They enjoyed excellent weather and good conditions for climbing.

Kye strain —for eye; comfort, for better vision, consult Sturme; and Watson Ltd., Opticians, 2 Octagon, punqdm*—jjAdyijJ