BACK TO THE LAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 63, 10 February 1933, Page 6

BACK TO THE LAND.

GOOD OUTLOOK FOR SMALL FARM SCHEME. (By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 9. A hopeful outlook for small farm settlement in relief of unemployment was expressed to-night by Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates when the protracted second reading debate of the Small Farms Bill had concluded. He contended, as an answer to Opposition criticism that the measure would deplete the Unemployment Fund, that it will actually relieve it. Workers on these small sections, he said, were drawing much less than on relief jobs. The average of the latter was 30s weekly, but as most of the small settlers had large families they would be entitled to draw ordinarily nearer £2 weekly on relief. Small farm settlers received no more than an average payment of 15s weekly, while ,50 per cent, of them were off the Unemployment Fund altogether. It had meant a saving to the Unemployment Fund of £20,000. He was definitely of the opinion that there was a market in the Empire for all New Zealand could export, and there was no risk at all in placing unemployed on small areas at a capital expenditure between £350 and £7OO. Within four or five years their properties would carry them. He had been urged to provide up to 100 acres, but this involved too much capital. It was essential to carry on the scheme modestly.

The Government aimed at placing 5000 unemployed on the land, though that was impossible within one year.