The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES." GISBORNE, TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1948. GISBORNE’S SMALL FARM SETTLEMENT GROUP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22622, 27 April 1948, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES." GISBORNE, TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1948. GISBORNE’S SMALL FARM SETTLEMENT GROUP

\7"ERY little reading between the lines of reports appearing under the heading of “Current Farming Topics” in Saturday issues of the Herald is required for interested people to arrive at the conclusion that in the Returned Servicemen’s Small Farm Settlement Group the district has in its midst an organisation of enterprising men who deserve every encouragement towards the fulfilment of their aims. .It is probable that the members of the group largely comprise servicemen who have kept their eyes open while they have been overseas on grimmer business than farming. While facing conditions which might have meant, that they would never return to their native land, they nevertheless observed how other people lived and, in wisely planning for their own futures, absorbed much useful knowledge of what can be done in the way of intensive cultivation. They have seen, for instance, what the waters of the Mle mean to Egypt and how the Italian peasants nourish their soil and maintain it in a state of fertility. The returned men who know their Gisborne and particularly the excellent quality of the Flats realise that nowhere else in New Zealand are the conditions so suitable foi small farm settlement. They foresee a lucrative and congenial future ir: the growing of citrus fruits, berries of many varieties, and crops for early and close cultivation. The keeping of bees and poultry is also favoured by those whose tastes run in that direction. Growing of Sweet Oranges A branch of the citrus industry which should make a strong appeal is the production of sweet oranges. It. is generally agreed by visitors expert in their appraisal of citrus fruit growing that the wonderfully fertile expanse of country—maybe rather too prosaically known as the Flats—can grow sweet oranges comparable with the best of importations. In this field alone the prospects are most enticing. The immediate practical problem is how to settle the keep and energetic servicemen who wish to make the most of what the district has to offer. It appears that, although some of the group members require rehabilitation assistance, the majority on the register expect to be able to finance their projects privately. In farming the small acreages envisaged, this latter course is obviously more practicable than in the case of larger holdings involving the building up of sheep and dairy herds. Some of the men may be disposed to work their rural properties for a time during the week-ends and m any other leisure moments that may come their way. The difficulties over buildings, moreover, would not be so obvious if these settlers could either live temporarily in town or make do with a whare if they chose to settle at once on their farmlet. The final and vital consideration is the acquisition of property through the help of farmers who can spare a corner of their holdings. In this respect the problem facing the prospective vendor does not entail anything like the difficulty of responding to the call usually made upon them for the disposal of land suitable for soldier settlement. In the first place, they would not be asked to embarrass themselves and their families in these days of a housing shortage by relinquishing their homes and other buildings. Farmer Vendors May Reap Reward It may indeed transpire that, by selling a small block of their land to a member of the Returned Servicemen’s Small Farm Settlement Group, they would be advertising, without any special effort on their own part, the valuable nature of the rest of their land and so reap a reward in later years—when perhaps they would really want to sell right out. It is clear that if a serviceman small farm settler succeeded with his intensive cultivation—and if the spirit behind this movement counts for anything at all, they will all succeed—new possibilities will be discerned in the land in the neighbourhood. Again looking to the future, it is permissible to conjure up encouraging visions of the better facilities for early marketing which are bound to come with improved transport communications. The closing of the railway gap between Matawai and Taneatua and the development of freight-carrying by air, especially to the districts in the south where the growing seasons are a good deal later, would offer unmistakable advantages. On top of all this, it is best that an essentially primary producing district should base its attempts to increase population first, and foremost on closer land settlement. ' With increased productivity from the soil, subsidiary but nevertheless important business will follow, together with more employment in general. It is of interest to note that on the register of the group is an ex-serviceman at present living in Hastings. Such enthusiasm as this man is showing is in itself a guarantee that he and his kind would be welcome acquisitions to the Gisborne district.