UNWORKABLE

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3494, 2 November 1926, Page 10

UNWORKABLE

EMPIRE SETTLEMENT SCHEME S FARMERS’ PROBLEMS. WELINGTON, Oct 28. 1 An explanation of why the New Zealand Government has Hot availed Itself of the Empire Settlement Scheme was given by the ’Hon. Mr McLeod, Minister for Lands, to-day. 1 “Few, If any,” Mr McLeod said, ("are cognisant of the exact provisions of the Empire Settlement Scheme. Although the Imperial Act appears clear enough in itself, the Treasury regulations under which it Is administered make progress difficult, and almost impossible so far as New Zealand is concerned. The only fixed point is that the maximum financial assistance to each settler shall not exceed £SOO, an amount insufficient to build a home, much less provide development cost and access. Not less than £3OOO is required to '•establish a family so that a reasonable wage may be assuved. How and by whom, the remaining £2500 is' to be found, and who td|tcs priority of security. I frankly confess my inability to ascertain. The Prime Minister, while in London, will again go into the matter, with a view to some tangible proposal resulting. "That there is room for enormous land development, perhaps more in the Auckland province than elsewhere, goes without saying, but tho and end of it means hard work, with borrowings, and still more borrowings.

“How much more borrowing this country can stand is not for me to say. If the sums for railways, hydro--electric works, schools, hospitals and the many other things for which this Dominion is annually called upon to Iborrow by an insistant public can be lessened, then so much more can be Jsnt aside for land and its develop*mcnt.” High Production Costs. Mr McLeod added that after moving about the. country he was much more concerned about the condition of much of our occupied lands than he was about the unoccupied lands, Much land was being forced out of profitable occupation by the enormous increase in costings, compared with the relatively small increase in the net oversea values of our primary products. With tho present-day economic position, it was almost impossible to apply labour to any extent on holdings which ran in area from 500 acres upwards. Scores of splendid farmers had told him that if relieved of a. third, half, or two-thirds of their holding area they could see daylight ahead.

Investigation into the position of mortgagees invariably showed the impracticability of compromise with mortgagees unless cash was forthcoming. Most of the holdings showed a degree of equity much above the. £3500 which the Slate Adva.nces was legally empowered to advance, and it was with a view to formulating some, method of assistance other than at present provided that he was at present investigating the matter.