ADVANCES TO SETTLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18519, 2 October 1923, Page 12

ADVANCES TO SETTLERS.

SECURING BETTER RESULTS.

LOANS OF SEED AND MANURE

PRACTICAL SUPERVISION.

A suggestion that the present system of State advances .to -settlers in money should bo replaced by; advances in kindreds and manure for top-dressing—is made M the Rev. E. ,S. Wayne, vicar of . Katikali. who claims that his proposal would give better results for .expenditure, and supports his contentionr by experience gained as manager of the farm and industrial school in Norfolk Island on behalf of the New South Wales Government. Mr. Wayne writes :— I am much distressed at the hardness of the struggle of many of the settlers in this district. Through it many of the young people are leaving for the towns, the farmers are discouraged, and the land ■uncultivated. Much money is lost lust because the buyers of land have uot capital enough to" carry on. The land in this district is useless without sufficient manure, "and except that one has seen what practical men, with a small capital can do one would consider the case of most of the settlers hopeless. Assistance by the Government would carry many of . these men to success, *.»- banco the value of our exports, and proVide freight for the incoming railway. The present form of advance to settlers on these poor lands is often money wasted, for the money is spent before pasture can be established, and in two or three years there is nothing to show for the expenditure of money or labour. There is a unique • opportunity of helping settlers and railway workers who have the land but not the means to work it. Cows are very cheap, and the men could establish permanent pasture, the family helping on the farm while they earn a living on the railway. If the Government, instead of advancing sums of money, would advance seed and manure to bo used under practical supervision, as soon, a3 the land was prepared for seed, each advance to be followed by grants to top-dress tha two following years, the grass would not only be established, but hards could be put on to mfiK with an immediate return. These men would be able to earn a living on their . farms when the railway work ceased.- -

Some years • ago I had practical experience of the splendid work done by the Agricultural Department of New South Wales. I was appointed to- manage the farm and industrial work of the Melanesian Mission in Norfolk Island.' I applied for an interview with the Minister for Agriculture in New South. Wales. He gave .me-a letter to the manager of Hawke* bury College with authority for him to supply me with all expert advice nd experimental seeds free. From beginning to end the greatest interest was taken in the work, my reports were printed, and when members of the Agricultural Department passed through Norfolk Island on the way to the South Sea Islands, they stated that the mission farm was as useful to Norfolk Island as a State farm could be. I know that members of the Agricultural Department of New Zealand are no■'-. less keen. Leading farmers here are. interested, but K doubt the practical support of the. Government. " What seems to me to be needed is small boards of successful, local, working farmers, with power to advance money on' farms for the purpose 5 of seed 1 and manure, up to an: amount allowed by Government valuation on each farm. These practical farmers should have the same assistance from.' the Agricultural Department that I received from that of New i South • Wales. It is'heartbreaking to put in pasture and then lose it from want of : experience, or for the need of money to top dress. I can see no difficulty if a scheme is drawn up by practical farmers, assisted by experts, approved by the Advances to Settlers' Board and financed by the Government. This scheme,: of course, would only apply to men willing to take advice and able to help themselves. Able farmers will give, their time to help those who either from want of capital or experience need assistance. ~ > .