DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 73, 27 March 1919, Page 5

DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTRY

RURAL SETTLEMENT NECESSARY. I (United Press Association.) , CHRISTCHURCH, March 27. | Speaking ,at thg Canterbury Progress ( League function, the Hon. G. W. RusJ sell said that Canterbury cpuld carry three or four times the population, and the Progress League . should keep that j matter well to the, fore with a view to | encouraging a, greater population and endeavouring to give .the province its proper place in the destiny of the country. There must be closer settlement for one thing; it >vas not .a question of ownership of land only, but as to its profitable occupation. Any man in future who held land hoar a railway, line and did not cultivate it adequately was failing in his duty, and it, would be Tor | the Government to iak© some actionj The! days of big holdings must also end ; if they were riot cultivated' as the requirements of the Dominion demanded. Men in other parts had seep what splendid soldiers tpe New Zealanders were, and many would no doubt wish to cqrae' to .a country that, bred, such men,. but he. believed that the best population New Zealand could have was that which it produced itself. Concessions must not he, given to outsiders before those inside had first bdnefitet). The;census of .1917 had disclosed that 54 per cent, of the population lived in the cities arid towns. This cerated a problem that Was significant, when there were any, means by which hoys of towns and cities could be shifted out and turned into country He had in mind toe establishment' of farms near towns, where boys .could he taken to see the actual, cofiditions of farm life , with a view to en-, couyaging them to follow agricultural* and pastoral pursuits.