NELSON VISIT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 30 July 1945, Page 4

NELSON VISIT

REHABILITATION DIRECTOR DISTRICT COMMITTEES MET STATEMENT ON LAND SETTLEMENT Mr F. Baker. Director of Rehabilitation, ou a visit to Nelson conferred with all district Rehabilitation Committees and met the chairmen of ail farming sub-committees at a confeience. In outlining the steps being taken to place men on farms. Mr Baker said that investigations were being made into the tobacco industry and other types of small farming. It was expected that land would have to be provided to settle 6000 men. “At the end of March 1943. 53 men had been financed on to the land, March 1944. 255; March 1945. 734; May 1945 871,” said Mr Baker. “When the grading system was introduced in March 1944 an accumulation of men was waiting to be graded so that it was impossible to give the position at that time as far as men waiting for settlement were concerned. In June 1944 there were about 600 men awaiting settlement and at the end of May 1945, 1315 ‘A” j grade farmers were awaiting settlement on the land in addition to <7l who had been assisted on to farm properties. “It was obvious that these men cannot be settled merely by buying out existing farms. During the last nine months a definite move has been made to acquire land for closer settlement. The land now held by the Lands Department should, when ready, settle 600 men. Actually it is anticipated that land will have to be provided to settle, say. 6000 men. There are four alternatives to follow in dealing with this problem. “1. Follow the present procedure of financing men on to existing farms “2. Buy developed land, subdivide it and place men on these holdings. During the past nine months a move has been made in that direction and in recent months 130 sections have been definitely allocated to men on a wage basis, share basis or final lease. This would be the most simple method of settling men on the land at the present time. “3. Buy and develop land which is at present undeveloped. At the present time this is very difficult as the materials necessary to carry out a large scale development plan cannot be obtained in sufficient quantities—in particular, fertiliser. “4. Endeavour to extend activities in all small types of farming gather than in dairying and sheep. Some investigation is being made into the tobacco industry and also into a number of other types of small farming. If there are «till economic fields for settlement in these fields it may be necessary to divert some of the men who want to go on to the land into these activities rather than put them on to dairy and sheep farms. While a considerable number will be settled by closer settlement of existing areas and development of other areas, a number of them at least could be diverted into thes' other types of rural activities.