MORE SETTLEMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10727, 26 October 1928, Page 3

MORE SETTLEMENT.

HOW IT SHOULD BE ACHIEVED. EMPLOYEES’ PRESIDENT’S VIEWS. (Special To The Times). WELLINGTON, Oct. 25. “How to expedite land settlement is a difficult problem,” said the Hon. T. S. Weston at the N.ZEmployers’ Association to-day. He continued : “Much of the land now held in New Zealand in large areas is purely pastoral country which is more efficiently worked in such areas. Not being suited for agricultural purposes or dairying it does not respond in the same way to applied labor as agricultural and dairy land does, it has been proved by experience to cub up this land is a mistr.ke. “The wealthy ‘ pastoralist also is required', if we are to have better Hocks and hhild tip herds of high class cattle. Breeders such as wo have in New Zealand are of great assistance to the farming community. To regard them as hindrances to progresses a foolish mistake. To increase the graduated land tax will be to injure and hamper 'men ' who are engaged in work vital to the progress of the community./ At-the same time it would be an injustice to those engaged in manufacturing and other city trades and industries which require high valued city land for their operations. “It is agricultural and dairying land where -production by sub-divis-ion can be largely increased that we desire to see more closely settled, and 1 unoccupied.land now outside the margin of • cultivation that w.e must bring into hearing. An increase, of the graduated land tax is an unscientific solution of this problem. It would injure the pastoralist and the manufacturer and the traders who are doing good national,work. Some other solution must be found. “Compulsory purchase by the State .is-always .expensive and: would •entail heavy - borrowing.) •Unless . entered - upon- at * the beginning/ of < a, steadily " rising land market it dpes : not enable the. new settler to acquire bis land at a" reasonable cost-unless the State is prepayed to make a substantial loss • onffiverv: farm handled.”