THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1922, LAND SETTLEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18192, 11 September 1922, Page 6

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1922, LAND SETTLEMENT.

♦ ■ The Departments of Agriculture and Lands should work hand in hand. The efforts of the one should supplement the activities of the other. So closely are they related that they should be regarded as branches of the same service. Yet a study of I the reports of these departments; which have been - presented to; Parliament reveals a striking lack of co-ordination, and the impression is created that where the intimacy of partnership should exist there is little more than casual acquaintance. The Lands Department, having emerged from a period of reckless extravagance in the settlement of soldiers, mainly on improved land of inflated value, is now chiefly an administrative service. It has no settlement policy. The statistics covering the year's operations showed, on examination, that the new settlement of real value to the Dominion was of small importance. ; The statement of areas ready for settlement was accompanied in most instances by the fatal qualification that funds were not available for the roading of the blocks or for the assistance of settlers. It is not surprising, therefore, that* the activities of the Department of Agriculture, as shown by its report, should be practically confined to the rural industries as they are and to the country already settled." Its work, of course, is of very great importance. It brings to the farmer scientific aid. Where its advice is followed there is increased efficiency : and greater prosperity for the individual and for the country as a whole. It is directed by enthusiasts whoso hearts are in their task. But the pity is that there are not people on the millions of empty acres to take advantage of this knowledge and enthusiasm. Hope for the future lies in two things: intensive cultivation and increased settlement. In regard to the former the country will have to rely in a great measure upon the tuition of the Department of Agriculture. But the process is bound to be slow, and it offers no hope for thd restoration of the flocks of th% Dominion which, through one cause or another, have been reduced by about 4,000,000 head in the last four years. In. the same period dairying was increased, but although there now are 335,000 more dairy cows than in 1917, the loss in sheep is Dot counterbalanced in grazing equivalent. This is a grave matter from the national point of view. One reason given is the decreased carrying capacity of much sheep country, hill pastures in particular. This being so, there is obviously increased need for the Lands Department to open up, systematically and comprehensively, the large tracts of fertile land now lying idle and so make certain the restoration of the flocks and the increase of the dairy herds. Mr. Nosworthy sounds a hopeful note. " We may now confidently say the corner has been turned," he says, " and the outlook justifies reasonable optimism." But one looks in vain for any sign of optimism in the Lands Department. Through lack of vision, inertia or financial fear, it drifts from month to month, and opportunity is denied :o thousands of men who would work out their destiny on the land, but to whom the door has been shut luring the last few years. Notwithstanding the fact that most expensive novements ox population ire being initiated in Britain under ohe overseas settlement scheme, no preparations are being made in New Zealand so that she may receive and >atisfactorily settle a quota of ihese immigrants, who will be drawn largely from the ranks of 'iiose wedded to the soil. These people want opportunity, and the Mother Country is prepared to find part of the money necessary to establish them in the Dominions where they may find elbow-room. 3ut if New Zealand is to delay her preparations until these immigrants ire ready to depart, she will lose chem. : The overseas settlement scheme j Is designed to extend over & number j ii years and, therefore, the Doj ninion must make a continuous and I lot a spasmodic settlement plan. With the present limited vision this Bay be regarded officially as a stupendous task, but it will have to , Je accomplished and a great deal nore. The native born have rights o the soil which must be granted. The report of the Department of Agriculture speaks of the necessity 'or a new policy in regard to State arms and announces that proposals "or a training establishment on wider and more comprehensive lines have been framed. The i first step, in this direction has ' : I

already been taken in the decision to hold schools for boys at the Ruakura Farm. There can be no doubt that the public, impressed with the consequences of the townward drift of the last decade, will insist upon the development of practical agricultural training and education for the youths, so that they may commence their careers as farmers with better chances of success than thousands of men who have adopted farming and learned through bitter experience. But if theso youths are to find the greatest measure of prosperity cheap virgin land must bo available for them, and in most cases financial assistance must be provided. Should the State fail in this, then much of the farm training will bo wasted and the inefficient" haphazard method of recruiting the farming population continue.