SETTLING THE LAND

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 204, 29 July 1939, Page 14

SETTLING THE LAND

ATTRACTING YOUNG MEN. A decision to formulaic a definite policy lor the settlement on the land of young men with .small amounts of capital was made by the Southern Hawke’s Bay executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at a meeting this week. The actual rorrn of the policy was left to the Takapau branch, the delegates from which’ Messrs X. Waldin and Xh. Tilley, raised the matter, Mr AA'aldin proposing that the policy when formed should be recommended to the Dominion executive for adoption.

in moving the resolution, Mr AYaldin suggested the possibility of forming a board or committee in the district to ask farmers to sell portions of large holdings at valuations based on productive, not selling, values and to administer the policy. “AA’o should start this ourselves, ’ he added, “as it will carry more weight than if it were begun by a political party. Let ns set the bail rolling and then, being satisfied, support the political party which adopts it, whether it be Labour, National or Reform.”

Mr X'. Tilley said the more people who had a stake in the country the better the protection against .Socialism and the more seriously would people view the question of defence. Air O. Cammock was in favour of such a proposal. He said trustees put deceased estate lands on the market and there should be an organisation to acquire these and place young men on them.

Mr H. B. Stuckey suggested a committee. Ho approved the scheme as a move in the right direction.

Air A. AlcLeod thought lands should be split up, but valuations would mrkc it difficult. Something should bo done for the boys coming on, said Air J. Livingston, as at present there was little to attract or offer them in the future unless some policy was formed. The national income depended on primary produce, but the legislation of both past and present Governments had damned land as an investment of mnnev.

Mr .f. C. Bolton, who presided, remarked that some definite proposal should i>e put forward as they were not just a 7-emit factory. The Takapau branch was then authorised to frame a policy.