SMALL FARMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 1 September 1934, Page 5

SMALL FARMS

GOVERNMENT SCHEME SURVEY BY MINISTER SUCCESS CLAIMED A claim that within limits controlled by the necessity for purchasing land the small farms settlement scheme bad fully justified itself was made by the Min ister for Lands (tin Hon. E. A. Ransom) in an interview with the Christchurch "Press.” The Minister brieily surveyed the progress of tire scheme, vi'itli, lie said, siiaald be considered together with those of Liie Department s land development operations on which unemployed men were engaged. The actual number of men at present working under the scheme was distributed as follows: — Employed on small farm blocks 794 Employed on ordinary settlement lil-iks 217 Established as share milkers ... . 326 .Placed on individual holdings 81b Tota.’ 2152 Including 1090 men employed in forestry, which was seasonal land work, the. grand total was no less than 3242. tinder the original small farm .scheme, Mr Ransom added, the operations were in the main confined to jO-heve holdings; but the advisability of establishing men on full-time farms soon L oca me apparent. Except in favoured localities, the occupier of u five-acre or a 10-acre holding was still largely de pendent cn the labour market. The Email Farms Board, established in April of last year, had decided as a policy measure on a scheme of absorbing a maximum amount of labour, and of keeping establishment costs per settler at a. minimum. There the board had set out lo develop marginal lands of a lighter type, those lauds readily responding to topdressing, although the ..purchase cost was low. Sessions oi Crown laud of the same type were also being used. PRESENT ACTIVITIES At picseuL ii.e Small Farms Board was actively engaged in the develop

ment of 28 blocks, comprising 32,720 acres and 558 holdings Apart from this, the hand 3 Development Board was developing- for ordinary settlement 11 blocks comprising 60,000 acres, and 290 holdings. Allowing for blocks under negotiation, there was in prospect for selection approximately 1000 entirely now holdings. On several blocks houses had already been built and balloted for, and the prospective settler.; and their families wore in occupation. As an indication that many small farms were already self-supporting, the Minister said that the number of men receiving sustenance had been reduced from 608 to 307. The total amount authorised for small farm settlement to date was £503,000. Mr ltansom gave details of the following blocks as examples of typical small-farm development;—

SETTLEMENT OF RICHMOND BLOCK ‘‘Despite tiie unfavourable position of our primary industries,” Mr Ransom continued, “1 believe the scheme will prove a good investment for the Dominion. It is a valuable extension of the Government’s closer settlement policy.” The Minister concluded by giving details of the settlement of the Richmond block at Napier—land which had been secured on lease on favourable terms fioni the harbour board. The block had been subdivided into 46 sections, averaging five acres. Thirty-eight houses had been erected, and the men with their families were in occupation. Crops had been planted and the. sale of produce had realised about £llOO, which was credited to the scheme. The ret cost of the scheme to date was £15,500. The men had been provided with nice homes at a small cost and half of them had secured outside employment. The Minister added that the Ahuviri lagoon development work was pi ogress-

mg satisfactorily, and that the area was being drained, roaded, and treated iii preparation for grassing and settlement. It was estimated that 6000 acres would be made available for settlement, and that, with an average of 20 acres a block, would provide 300 small holdings.

Ngaiamaldnc Acres. Holdings. Men employed (To Kuiii) .. Purui'ii (To Kuiii) Waitangaru (Tc 2818 23 35 1990 15 79 Kuiti) McKenzie’s (Hold1853 13 48 aiiga) Tulamoc (Darga1513 15 53 villo) Motutaugi Swamp 1607 18 34 (Kaitaia) 1400 15 35 Kaitaia Swamp ... 800 .17 35 Murupara (Rotorua) 2120 18 31