“Have Patience, Your Duties Will Be Defined"-Barclay

Northern Advocate, 26 July 1943, Page 2

“Have Patience, Your Duties Will Be Defined"-Barclay

“We had hoped to get from you something encouraging. We feel we are not functioning as we should. We have been established eight months and have done very little.” These remarks were made' to the Minister for Agriculture and Mai’keting (Mr J. G. Barclay) by the chairman of the Whangarei Rehabilitation Committee (Mr G. A. Bethell) at the close of formal business on Saturday evening. Mr Barclay said the committee may have been called together a _ little early, but the work of rehabilitation was being steadily developed throughout New Zealand. The board was developing its policy in close co-opera-ticn with the R.S.A. and Lands and Forestry Departments. He thought, the committee should be consulted on all matters other than those which were simplicity itself and could be completed immediately, without the need for consultation. This would expedite matters.

The chairman: We feel our duties should be more clearly defined. Mr Barclay: The Rehabilitation Board has not yet properly defined youf duties. It takes some time to develop such a scheme.” He had personally consulted various organisations in Wellington connected with the scheme of settling soldiers on the land.

Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay: Couldn’t we get more information on this? Guarantee Of Land

Mr Barclay: We are going to put the men on the land on its productive value. If we have not sufficient land we will acquire more. The State Advances will advance up to 100 per rent and assist with the purchase of stock. As larger numbers of men come back we will have to acquire more land. There is no need to do this with the number already returned. We have sufficient land for these now, but the great need is to build' houses on the land for these men.

“We know the State must be prepared to make a loss in order that the soldiers can be put on the land at its productive value. As w T e develop our policy we will let the public know. We guarantee to secure land for returned soldiers when they come back; that is our definite promise.” What Productive Value Is Mr Mac Kay: What is meant by productive value? For instance, ewes could be. bought some little time ago for 8/- and a little later the price had risen to £2. Mr Barclay: My understanding of productive value is the value left on the land after the cost of producing the article, less interest. We will take the land today at its productive value, with relevant factors: one farm may have a first-class house while the other has a poor one, yet the land may be good in both instances. I like productive value with other relevant factors, rather than the market value.

Mr Mac Kay.: It is very rare that the productive value is the same two yeai’s running. The chairman: Are you in favour of paying the difference between the productive value and what the vendor asks?

Mr Barclay: Generally speaking, no; but there may be special cases. Mr Mac Kay: Why should the State make a loss?

Mr Barclay: Because, after the property has been purchased at its productive value, it may be necessary to put a lot of improvements on the land, such as buildings, etc. Northland Crown Lands Mr J. W. Parkin asked if anything had been done regarding a complete survey of Crown lands in the North with a view to their rapid development. He quoted large blocks of land that he considered could be got ready very readily, and a larger number of settlers established. This land should be got ready now, and not wait until the soldiers return. Mr Barclay: A comprehensive survey has been made, but we have not the labour for development work. We must build houses on the land we already have. The chairman: We will be more happy when our duties are defined. Mr Barclay (on rising to depart): Have patience and your duties will be defined for you. It takes time to develop an organisation such as this. It was the same with patriotic activities. Mr Parkin: We received progress reports in connection with those activities. Mr Barclay was thanked for his attendance and his sympathetic interest in the matters discussed.