LAND DEVELOPMENT

Grey River Argus, 9 November 1931, Page 2

LAND DEVELOPMENT

Breaking in New Country REPRODUCTIVE WORK BY UNEMPLOYED. Results have been achieved by the Unemployment Board’s No. 4 scheme (4A and 4B), if they are regarded only in terms of the number of unemployed that have been taken from city and suburban streets and placed in employment that has developed their sense of the necessity and importance of work on the land. This in itself is a distinct gain psychologically, for it is probable that many of those who have been so satisfactorily occupied during the past six months had begun to have serious doubts whether they would ever again have an opportunity of enjoying the real thrill of a worthwhile job. Actually, the absorption of the unemployed was the basic idea behind those land development plans, and they have realised hopes to the extent of providing work for 11,556 men since their inception on 22nd February of this year. When 4A was temporarily suspended on 31st August the tally of men who had been engaged under it was 7,846 single and 2,229 married men. The suspension lasted only a month, and to-day there are 2,005 single men and 636 married men employed on reproductive work on farms. And more are being taken on every week. Whereas under 4A it may happen that the Unemployment Board finds the whole of the wages for men engaged by farmers, the Board grants subsidies to the extent of 33 1-3 per cent of labour only for contracts under 48. Yet the record of this practical scheme is the approval of 620 contracts, involving the employment of 1,481 men upon work of a distinctly reproductive character. It is evident that these men were no laggards, for among their achievements were the following:— Scrub-cutting, 17,045 acres. Bush-felling, 9,795 acres. Stumping and logging, 1,273 acres. Grubbing, 1,472 acres. Drainage, 8,450 chains (106 miles). Fencing, 10,655 chains (134 miles). Many of the farmers responsible for these contracts gave estimates of the expected additions of stock that would result, but many others did not do so. The figures so far to hand show that in the near future nearly 40,000 sheep and over 7,000 cattle will be grazing on land that has, since the discovery of the country, remained unproductive. One of the biggest contracts so far arranged is the clearing of 600 acres of bush on a Crown leasehold property at Kekerangu, Pelorus Sound, involving the letting of eight sub-contracts and the employment of 30 men for two months. Seven of the contracts are of four men each and the eighth will be carried out by two men. At a reasonable rate of work the men are expected to earn £3/15/- per week. It is computed that when this area is ready for stock it will provide grazing for an additional 1200 sheep. Applicants for subsidies under 4B must apply to the Lands and Survey Department, or where this is not convenient, should confer with the local unemployment committees, which will supply the men needed on contracts. These men must be genuinely unemployed. An inspector of the Lands and Survey Department inspects each contract when completed and furnishes a report to the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the district. There does not appear to be any room for doubt that these developmental plans provide what all the critics of relief work have been clamouring for —namely, something that will return to the country substantial value for the outlay involved.