PREMIUM BALLOTS MAJOR ISSUE IN LAND SETTLEMENT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22697, 23 July 1948, Page 6

PREMIUM BALLOTS MAJOR ISSUE IN LAND SETTLEMENT

Among matters discussed by the district executive of the Gisborne .* Returned Services’ Association on Wednesday with the Wellington-East district president of the R.S.A. Mr. C. N. Tilly, the fixing of deposits in connection with a large number of settlement sections now coming up for selection developed major interest. This was the first occasion on which Mr. Tilly had visited Gisborne as district vice-president, and he gave to members of the Gisborne executive and others present—who included members of the lands committee of the Gisborne R.S.A. and representatives of the MotuMatawai, Waikohu and Nuhaka branches —an outline of the main decisions taken at the recent Dominion conference with a brief discussion of the arguments produced for both sides of the more interesting suggestions. National Service Plan Emerges

He stated that the Dominion executive committee’s representations to the Government on compulsory national service had been met very adequately by the statement recently made by the Minister of Defence, Mr. F. Jones.

Land settlement questions were undoubtedly outstanding, as a group, in the conference discussions, said Mr. Tilley, and a good deal of argument had hinged on what was known as the premium ballot. Over-scale farming units were now subject to conditions which required the successful balloiee to lodge a substantial deposit in a majority of cases, and there was a strong feeling among some sections of returned men that this practice was not in accord with the original promises of the Government.

The practice certainly ruled out of the competition a large number of men who were graded A and fitted by experience to take up land under the settlement scheme, added Mr. Tilley. A majority of the delegates at the conference had been of opinion, however, that where the finance involved ran beyond the loan maxima fixed by the Government the applicants should be required to stake something of their own on the success of the venture. Development of Poorer Lands

Not all ballots were subject to deposits, and in many cases the leasehold tenure could be obtained without deposit whereas the sale-and-purchase agreement required "money down" * from the applicant. The disturbing fact remained that much of the best land was being made inaccessible to men who were fully qualified, apart from financial backing, to make good farmers.

The visitor put before the meeting a proposal for recommending to the Government the opening of areas of land which were not quite up to the highest standard, but which could contribute to the nation’s economy if properly developed.

This suggestion had been evolved at a Hastings conference recently with a view to placing men who were not able to qualify for the big-money sections. An essential feature of the scheme would be the proyision of finance in-terest-free for periods based upon the time needed to make the lands 'productive.

This proposal was discussed at length, and it was agreed that while in the more costly blocks the deposit requirement was justified as a matter' of policy, opportunity also should be given to young men who were willing to tackle less valuable lands. The essential feature should be the offering of reasonable inducements to the settler, the meeting held. After other aspects of land settlement had been discussed, Mr. Tilley was accorded a vote of thanks, on the motion of the Gisborne president, Mr. J. Leggat, who presided at the meeting.