MORE SETTLERS.

Franklin Times, Volume 14, Issue 258, 29 July 1925, Page 5

MORE SETTLERS.

■ PRIME MINISTERSS PLANS. | I. I MR.„ COATES GIVES DETAILS. I .'URGES STEADY DEVELOPMENT. I .PROVISION OF TIIE CAPITAL. ■ ‘T'rr ! ’r''ss \« t ?ni-iaMnnl. I /■ WELLINGTON, This Day. I Addressing the annual conference ol' [the Dominion Farmers’ Union to-day, |the Prime Minister, the Hon. J. G.’ ■Coates, alluding to the development of Ithe poorer class of land and to land [development generally, said this was la matter for steady progress only. He [did not think it possible to rush matters. There were parts of New Zealand which could he developed bv irrigation. He alluded to Central Otago and other districts and mentioned the success attained in certain districts. all hough the work here would certainly be slow, yet in the course of five or six years ' a different story would be told.

| As to other land suitable for small settlement,. he said, it would be the aim of the Government to work out a scheme under which success could be made by men who laboured for themselves, and an endeavour would [be made to direct capital to carry out the initial stages of development. As to immigration, since the war New Zealand had been receiving about JO,OOO immigrants a year and, speaking generally, the new arrivals were lulling their positions fairly satisfactorily.

New Zealand to-day was exporting about 50 per cent, of the cheese used in Great Britain, and about one-l'ourth 'of the butter used in Great Britain. We had, however, very severe competition from competitors seeking to displace us on the British market. He said unhesitatingly that the operations of the Meat Board had already proved successful, and there was no reason : why the Dairy Board should not accomplish the same success. Alluding to the question of an agricultural bank, Ihe Prime Minister said the Government intended to send two men abroad to investigate and report on the question, and had invited the president of the Farmers’ Union to be one of the -two delegates. Empire Preference. New Zealand must do her duly in finding room for immigrants from Great Britain, and he appealed to the farmers to use goods and material of British'manufacture. It was the duty of everyone individually and collectively to assist the Motherland now and for years to come.