IN FOR A LEAN TIME.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 29 January 1927, Page 7

IN FOR A LEAN TIME.

“THE NATURAL CYCLE OF EVENTS. ’ ’ BANKER SUMS UP THE PROSPECTS “I anr inclined to think we are in for lean times,” said Mr H. Buckleton, general manager of the Bank of New Zealand, in an interview at Whangarei (states the Auckland correspondent of the Dominion). “At least,” he added, “indications point that way. In any case, lam afraid we are duo for it.” Continuing, Mr Buckleton said that New Zealand had been reasonably prosperous for a good many years, and in the natural cycle of events a lean time was to be expected. EVERYONE MUST WORK, i Asked how such a condition of affairs should be met, Mr Buckleton said the first thing for everyone to do was to work, because there was no room for idle people in New Zealand. To a question as to where the work should be done, Mr Buckleton said that apart from national works, farmers in rural districts required assistance, and he was anxious to see more work being done on farms. Unfortunately, continued Mr Buckleton, the average farm holding in New Zealand is much too large, with the result that in many places noxious weeds were gaining the ascendancy, and in other places pasture had deteriorated. The first step in the improvement of farm lands, he urged, was a reduction in the size of holdings by means of sub-division. This, of course, would not be an easy matter owing to difficulties of finance, but in the meantimo and until the responsibility of keeping farm lands in proper order was more widely distributed, he suggested that every farmer who could posisbly afford it should give employment to those seeking work in the matter of fencing, clearing land of noxious woods, and general improvements. By doing this they would help themselves, help the State, and help the unemployed. FARMERS AND UNEMPLOYMENT. Mr Buckleton said there were plenty of farmers who would willingly provide a few days’ work which in tlie aggregate would mean employment for hundreds of men. The Defence Department might very well come to , the State’s aid by loaning tents and transport facilities to any group of men who would go out into the country, employ their own cook, erect State tents I: five in. and offer their services to farmers. A transport waggon could run the men out to their job in the morning and bring them back to camp in the evening. An organised scheme of this kind would give much-needed employment to those willing to work, would assist farmers to improve their lands, and would lift the burden from tlie State.

“Let ns work and let us be full of hope, and we hate, nothing to fear,” concluded Air Buckleton.