LAND DEVELOPMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 258, 28 September 1935, Page 8

LAND DEVELOPMENT

absorption of workless. SCHEME ANNOUNCED. (By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 28. The Minister of Lands (Sir Alfred Ransom) announces a scheme for the utilisation of a large number of unemployed, who will be permanently taken off the register. They will be employed in developing a number of abandoned Crown sections, subject to State securities, which can be profitably developed if labour and supervision costs are not loaded on to the land. The areas to be taken in hand are in the middle of the North Island, in the counties of Kawhia, Otorolranga, Waitomo, Ohura. Taumarunui, W.aimarino, and Kaitieke. The development of these areas, and the provision of adequate road access, will provide immediate employment for 500 men, which can within six months be increased to a thousand or 1500. The securities in question were deteriorating and, 6aid Sir Alfred Ransom, it would be only a matter of time when the Crown’s interest would vanish unless action was. taken. The lands would be reconditioned by unemployed labour, the Small Farms Board finding the capital costs for materials, etc., the work being controlled by the Public Works Department and farming operations by a Small Farms Board officer. As the scheme proceeded they, could arrange to take over other doubtful securities from the Mortgage Corporation.