LAND SETTLEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19509, 13 December 1926, Page 8

LAND SETTLEMENT.

Sir, —The New Zealand Herald has faithfully shown the attitude of the Land Department in regard to the pessimistic " taihos," we havo to put up with. During this lafe rand boom unimproved values- were raised by the land valuers without regard to real value, which is now noli more than before the war. The result is plainly seen, especially where native lease is occupied. Settlers are blocked by these excessive unimproved values, and are waiting until an honest value is put on before they proceed with improvements _or purchase the freehold. What in, required to foster production is a more up-to-date method of dealing with native Hand. Where land partially imjproved is deserted wends, such as briar, blackberry, ragwort a:nd useless grams, with fern, and other native growth, soon get possession, causing a loss of production, which reduces our money in cirj culation, thus causing lossi, not only to the primary produdewi, but also to all sections; of, the population. To : raise unimproved values, and thus rob this Dominion of its natural wealth, is a suicidal policy, and the sooner the voters • recognise the necessity of more up-to-date methods the better for our national prosperity! | The writer-is' a settler on native land Jnased at £1 10a per acre, raised to £3 per acre, but valued by the Bank of New Zealand at £1 per acre. It has been deserted three times by occupiers, and is now a good, demonstration area for blackberry. Want of energy and lack of capital allowed this deterioration; now excessive, unimproved value is the stoppage. Instead of obstacles, our settlers . require experienced men to rectify our present fool land policy. Professional politicians havo had their innings. We must elect men who are capable of overcoming these obstacles to tho /prosperity o:f our country. To copy Canada's land methods of settlement would be a help. To give deserted, weed-infested .and free for, say, five years, with a sound tenure ahead sit an honest value, which, on the poorer lands, would bo nothing, although apparently a loss to the State, would eventually be a decided gam where up-to-date farmers took it on. _ It is wrong to say there is a Tack °L P lc > ne cr settlers. ]jf inducment were oifered to get a cheap start there would be plenty of young men capable and willing to make our idle land productive. Pioneer Settler.