Support for Small Farm Idea

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6864, 21 May 1932, Page 5

Support for Small Farm Idea

TO HELP UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM. “I feel it lies with us whether the Government’s small farm idea for helping the unemployment problem is successful,” said Mr. G. L. Marshall (klartou) at yesterday’s meeting of the Wellington provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union held at Fcilding. H vre think it good then wo should not hesitate to commend it. Personally 1 consider it ono of tho things decided on by tho Government that might be successful and wo ought to support it. If wo can settle a number of families of unemployed on small sections we are doing something towards helping tho problem. I move that wo endorse the Government’s proposals regarding tho settling of unemployed on small farms and that wo offer our assistance in achieving the object desired.” In seconding tho motion Mr. K. W. Dalrymplo stated that the Government was at present engaged in an investigation of the costs involved. Everything possible was being done to expedite the proposals and suggestions would be welcomed.

Mr. J. G. Eliott supported the motion but felt that people were waiting for more concrete proposals. What was to bo tho tenure of the farms? The Labour party had raised the objection mat tho proposal would tend to increase the value of the mortgagees’ security. He wished to know whether the Government proposed to purchnso the land straight out or to arrange leases. To his mind the scheme would have to provide that tlie land became either the property of the Crown or the occupier.

The chairman (Mr. L. Hammond) said that it was proposed, as soon as the completed scheme was announced, to hold meetings of farmers at which all information would be available. Mr. Eliott said that there was no doubt that the scheme was of vital interest to the whole Dominion.

Mr. J. B. S. Duckling felt that the scheme had many weak points and he rather feared that it might suffer a fate approaching that of tho discharged soldiers’ settlement scheme. Unemployed may be settled on the sections but there would be nothing to prevent them walking off after a year or two. Mr. Eliott said that the proposals were framed to meet the unemployment position and not to cater for the man with small means desiring a small section.

Mr. Duckling: I think we will have a bill to pay later. Mr. F. Cash felt that more good would be done if the men were put to work on the back-block roads. Mr. D. L. Younger commended the scheme and expressed the opinion that closer settlement would help towards a solution of the country’s difficulties. If the full scheme wero known ho was confident that there would be plenty of land offering in tho Feilding district. The motion was carried after further discussion and it. was decided to send copies of the resolution to the Minister of Employment, and the Dominion secretary as well as to the provincial conference. *