FARMS FOR SOLDIERS

Grey River Argus, 16 January 1941, Page 3

FARMS FOR SOLDIERS

READY ON THEIR RETURN 200 to 400 Estates Suitable FOR 2,500 TO 3.000 MEN GOVERNMENT’S PLANS OUTLINED CHRISTCHURCH, January 15. Soldiers returning from thi s war who desire to take up farming and who have had some farming experience will be placed immediately on the land. Those who are keen to become farmers, but who have had no experience, will be given ar.‘quate training. . This was explained by the Minister for Lands. Hon. F. Langstone, in an interview to-night. “The Government,” Mr Langstone said, “has a well-thought-out scheme for the settlement of soldier farmers returning from this war. A recent purchase of land in the South Island, as well as in the North Island, is part of this long-range policy. Recently the Government has purchased 8000 acres on the Va.'etta-Tinwald area and also the Motunan Estate. These ar P involved in the scheme.” As the Minister indicated, both of these areas will be used for soldier settlement, but any necessary development of the areas to make them suitable for closer settlement will, be undertaken almost immedi-

ately. , . , •‘Ther P will be a definite procedure to be followed in the Selectron of men for settlement,” Mr Langstone said. “Some will be able to carry on with their farming right away, immediately they return from active service, because of their knowledge and ability as farmers with some past experience. But others will need training, and we intend to see that we have ready R’ r operation a scheme for th ( > training of these inexperienced men “We also intend that in no one estate that w,. purchase for soldier settlement shall' all of the small holdings be taken up at one time. We feel that there will b ( > men coming back from the war at a later date than others, but who. at the same time, are entitled to th,, same consideration as the earlier arrivals. Those who come back later on will find themselves provided with the same opportunities for settlement and training as the earlier arrivals. ’ “I would like to emphasise one thing,” th ( . Minister added. “There are not the millions of acres existIno- for closer settlement m New Zealand that some people would think Our records show that sb.uuu people hold land ranging in area from one acre to the large acreage. If vou take them in groups, you find i that approximately, 64 000 farmers 1 hold' from one acre to 320 acres. There is obviously, very little room for close settlement there. Then, approximately, 20.000 people hold areas of from 320 acres to o(4)l acres. In tbi« group, areas suitab < I lor closer settlement will be available. I have gone into the position fairly closelv <1 think I can claim with some justification), and I have found that ther,, are from 200 to 400 estates that are suitable for closer settle-

ment. These would sett!? between 2500 and 3000 men. To settle, such a number of men would cost, in all possibly an average of £5OOO per farm. “In th P groun from 5000 acres to the largest of the holdings, ate approximately 1000 ho tiers. but hard.'v any of that land is su*tar>le for closer settlement. Most of those ureas are high country runs, obviously unsuitable for close settlement, and the peoyle who talk of the possibility of cutting up_such places are talking so much ‘bunk’—that is putting it plainly, but it is only stating the real case. These hug? runs arc not suitable for closer settlement.