TOO MUCH LAND

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 10490, 15 October 1926, Page 6

TOO MUCH LAND

DAIRYMEN SHOULD HOLD SMALLER AREAS.

FINANCIAL FAILURE FOLLOWS

SURPLUS 1 AREAS SHOULD GO FOR CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

LEGISLATION FORESHADOWED. AUCKLAND, Ocfc. 14. Dealing v.tith land settlement in a speech at Papaknra last evening the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister 'of Lands, stated he felt certain that the turn-over from raising cattle and s4ieep to dairying has left hundreds, ; f not thousands, of holdings much too large for profitable occupation or aigh development. He found many splendid settlers battling along in an endeavour to develop 400 to 700 acres, when for dairying purposes they should be concentrated on 100 to 150. In all too many cases their finances are so hopelessly involved with successive mertages, he said, that it is impossible for them to sell a portion of the land without having the whole of the mortgage called up. He foreshadowed legislation helping such settlers to dispose of their surplus in the interest of closer settlement. He had considered three alternatives: First, to save those already on the land wherever possible; second, to purchase land for settlement, and thus to some extent prevent a wholesome deflation ; third, to settle those who required land on areas as yet unoccupied. A rapid, summing up had convinced him that to save those on the land was the Government’s first duty, and that much borrowing would be necessary to achieve that end; hence State advances had, during the last three years, lent to struggling settlers over. £10.000.000. while in remissions and postponements of rent on lands other than those held by soldiers, large sums had boon conceded in the hope that help at the present juncture might ultimately he of benefit to the community and the settlers concerned.

In reference to industries and commerce, the Minister said it was realised that New -.Zealand could never hope to become great on primary industries alone, if it could be shown that secondary industries were suffering because of cheftp-liihour Tfiatorjhl beinuy dump.cE-intij-ilu*- w®" 1 ”- rea '_ sonable' protection was warranted. The Minister also expressed the opinion that unless private finance in Netf Zealand is controlled more economically there will be no hope of a reduction of unemployment during the winter months.—P. A.