LAND SETTLEMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 August 1924, Page 8

LAND SETTLEMENT.

■INQUIRIES AT THE NEW ZEA- | LAND PAVILION l FOREIGNERS’ DESIRE FOR TRADE LORD HELPER TO VISIT DOMINION. LONDON, June 17, From the nature of the inquiries being made at the New Zealand Pavilion at the Empire Exhibition may be judged- what sections of the British public are taking a really serious interest in the affairs of the Dominion, either from the point of view of trade or that of prospective settlers. Naturally, the members of the staff are kept very busy all day answering innumerable questions. First of all’, there is the inquiry regarding the possibility of taking up farm land, and there follow the subsidiary questions of the price of land, the methods of farming, the returns, markets, and a hundred other things which a prospective farmer wants to know before lie makes up his mind to try his fortune in a new land. Conditions in New Zealand are so different from those familiar to the inquirers that satisfactory explanations in? volve a long story.’ The staff, however, is careful always , to advise people to spend at least a. year working for others before they attempt to farm land of their own. Among those whose interests lie in the purchase of land are the parents of public school boys. People with fixed incomes are finding the conditions in England very different from what they were before the war, and there is no longer the opportunity for settling their sons comfortably in this country. The new migration scheme for public school boys has had a good deal of publicity, and the result is that very many inquiries are being made at the pavilion regarding the scheme and the prospects for the boys Avhen they arrive in New Zealand. It is evident, that this particular form of migration is going to be a great success.

Coalminers are another class of poeple who are interested in the condition in this Dominion. Quite a good class of men make inquiries regarding mining, and these are all sent to the High Commissioner’s office, as rare those women to whom the domestic servant scheme appeals. Of these latter there are very many. Fruit farming is another industry which interests a great many people. Motor mechanics are also fairly numerous applicants for information, but obstacles are put in the way of their proceeding to New Zealand with the hope of finding an outlet for their particular craft,

A surprising feature* of the inquiries is that representatives of Continental countries seem to be even more anxious to establish trade with New Zealand than do the, representatives of . English firms. Inquiries have been made by business men of Poland, Germany, Palestine, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Belgium, Norway, and India. Kauri gum for varnish and linoleums interests traders of Germany and France. Fruit, butter and cheese are also commodities which Continental people want to know a good deal about. The Dutch are interested in the meat trade. Italians want .to know about the minor minerals of the Dominion, and Germans and French require details concerning phosphates, ores, concentrates, mercury, and even arsenip. One German wanted to know atfout the Year Book statement showing the New Zealand trade that had been done, with Germany, and with the eountrie| contiguous to Germany since the war. Amongst other things he was bent on finding out what quantity of manufactures originally made in Germany. had been exported by other countries as their own production.

Irish farmers have been fiudiug the handicap they are under cow that their country is a Free. State. As the British Government supplies part of the passage money, under the Empire Settlement Act, for assisted migrants, and as the Free State no longer contributes to the British Exchequer, the citizens of the, Free State are not eligible for the concessions. To many Irish people who have made inquiries regarding migration this comes as a disappointment, but obviously they cannot eat their cake and have it.

Sportsmen, of course,, are a large class of inquirer. The exhibit of deer heads i s undoubtedly the best that has ever been shown in England, and deer stalkers who have to pay enormous rents for the privilege of hunting in Scotland or have to own - their own land are taken by surprise when they find that the fee in New Zealand is merely a nominal one. Baron Helper is a recent convert to deer stalking in New Zealand. He owns fiOOO acres of deer land in Scotland. He it was who acknowledged that the collection at Wembley was the finest that had ever been collected under one roof. Lord Helper wished to meet someone rvho had a personal knowledge of deerstalking in New Zealand. He was referred to. Major Wilson, with the result that he has cabled to New Zealand for a block of country for next shooting season, which is in January of next year.

Another case is that of a wealthy Californian who came over to hunt in Scotland) Before he could get what he wanted he was asked to buy a whole property. He has found ' out the opportunities for sport in New Zealand, with, the result that he,-too; will be booking his passage for the Dominion for the first shooting season. 1 Anglers, of course, are an interested class of inquirers, and many a sportsman has registered a vow to try his luck with the giant swordfish of the northern -waters. There are also a great many questions asked regarding investments and taxatioii in the Dominion. A very large class of people in this country are dependent for tlicr income on investments. These are feeling the postwar conditions. Taxation, the education of their families, and living generally is a burden which they are finding too great. It is likely, therefore, that New Zealand will- have in the future an influx of families of means who are. seeking the easier circumstances of a. new land.