The Star. Delivered every evening by 5 o'clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley, TUESDAY, JULY 30, 1912. HOMES FOR COUNTRY WORKERS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIII, Issue XVIII, 30 July 1912, Page 4

The Star. Delivered every evening by 5 o'clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley, TUESDAY, JULY 30, 1912. HOMES FOR COUNTRY WORKERS.

Since our last article on this subject was published on Tuesday, the 2nd instant, we have noticed with much satisfaction that the Auckland Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union is t*> discuss the matter at its meeting early in August. No doubt other provincial branches of the Union will follow suit, and, if so, a workable scheme may be before the country at a comparatively early date. Even if the various branches of the Union should not unitedly reach this stage directly and at once, the importance of the subject woiild deserve a special conference of delegates to deal finally with the proposal. In our article of the 2nd instant we quoted the opinion of Mr J. C. Ensor, a Canterbury farmer, to the effect that "workers' homes for the country districts were much needed, and would contribute materially to the success and progress of agriculture, because it would help in transferring superfluous townspeople to the rural producing areas. But he maintained that small farmers, at any rate, were not in a position to build such homes, and he dwelt on the fact that no other employers of labor were expected to build homes for their employees. To this he added that it should be a matter of public policy with the Government to devote a portion of the taxation imposed on farmers to the erection of farm workers' homes." We added that this was, prima facie, a sagacious and business-like proposal, and that it had perhaps been a factor in inducing the Mackenzie Government to think of legislation "providing that workers in the different cent-re* r-.i^ht acquire cottage farms from the State, sufficiently near their usual work to enable' them to profitably employ their spare time in fruit-growing, dairying, and market-gardening." Since then, however, the Mackenzie Government has ceased to be; and though the subject is one which the Massey Ministry is likely enough to take in hand, yet personal activity on the part of the

farmers cannot b© amiss in the meanlime. It is because we are convinced of this, and of the vital importance of the subject, that we are glad to see that the Auckland branches of the Farmers' Union are deliberately taking the whole matter in hand. The Auckland Star d the 17th instant says that Mr A. Schmitt, the secretary of the Provincial Executive, first set the ball rolling amongst the provincial branches, by suggesting "that the Government should inaugurate a scheme for the erection of workers' homes in country districts on lines similar to those adopted in some of the suburbs of the principal cities of the dominion, except that ' small areas of land should be attached } to each dwelling." The idea is that "in slack seasons, when general farm work is scarce the occupants of the proposed homes might engage in small farming ; also that all the year round they might carry on mixed farming to a small ex- j tent with the aid of their families." I In other parts of the dominion—where the need for the scheme has been recog- | nised and advocated, this has also been the chief end in view—this and the settlement of workers in localities where their labor would be in request, and would be available when needed by the setters. But the gain for the workers would be particularly satisfactory and tangible, for they would have secure homes, and be assured of employment. In Auckland, apparently, the only point on which there are material differences of onrnion is in regard to the area of land which should be attached to the dwellings. The original suggestion was that the areas should range from fifteen to twenty acres, but although the Auckland farmers are not unanimously in favor of this suggestion, they are" all of opinion that the areas should be sufficient to support men and their families in offsensons. Indeed, the majority think that the country workers should be systematically encouraged to work their holdings to the very best advantage, and be regarded more as small farmers than as agricultural laborers. So far as Auckland farmers think of tbe Stnte in the matter, their idea is that the Government might resume suitable land in leading agricultural districts, and divide it up in the manner indicated, for the erection of suitable dwe'lings. for country workers and their fatrilips. No doubt farmers in other parts of the dominion will do much more than \vp+ch the movement with interest, and will sympathise with it and assist it, not only as members of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, but a<s individual colonists. It is, indeed, a scheme which every colonist may assist in furthering, on account of its practical bearing on the great central industry of agriculture, and happily there is now a better prosoec't tlinn evof for i«. :i^, i"=t a- «c ■were finishing this article. Mr John Stiiflholme's "eoort on tbe fi'ibjp"*-, r\ime to hand. We cannot review it here, but it annears in another 'vVhirr.n. and fli c vender will see tIW, +> A pr**™^,^ Mr Mnssev, has promised to consider the scheme.