Crown Land Development

Northern Advocate, 20 May 1949, Page 4

Crown Land Development

AUCKLAND, Fri. (Sp.).—Unless the development of Crown lands was speeded up it would be many years before the returned servicemen awaiting farms were established on the land, contended the president of Federated Farmers, Auckland Province (Mr J: Scott-Davidson) at the annual conference of the federation yesterday.

He advocated a vigorous policy of development and settlement of Ci'own lands.

The legislation governing the settlement of returned servicemen had been brought down during the war, when its implications had not been fully realised, Mr Scott-Davidson said. It was never thought that it would be necessary to subdivide compulsorily well-farmed, fully-improved properties, and that men who had fought in World War I should be among those affected.

Surely a farmer who built up his holding was entitled to the fruits of his labour.

USA ATTITUDE.

In the Auckland Province, and particularly in Rotorua, there was sufficient land for the settlement of returned servicemen without the compulsory acquisition of an existing holding. After inspecting the undeveloped pumice lands in the Rotorua district, he was convinced that they supplied the answer.

Although the attitude of the Dominion executive of the RSA had not been helpful, the organisation was coming round to the viewpoint of Federated Farmers, Mr Scott-Davidson continued.

In advocating land development, the federation was not only doing something for the ex-serviceman, but also £o>- the people as a whole. The conference passed resolutions proposing that Federated Farmers should be consulted before the passage of legislation affecting the farming community, and that the federation be given the right to appoint a member to the Land Settlement Board and the Rehabilitation Board.