LAND SETTLEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19567, 21 February 1927, Page 8

LAND SETTLEMENT.

Sir, —I cannot for the life of me see how expansion can take place without settlement on the land. Local industries are very well in their way, but we are not likely to export- the produce of any local industries. The only possible way to absorb an increased population is to make our unproductive lands into productive lands and foster settlement thereon. If, as the local head of the Agricultural Department says, 500,000 acres of gum land in the North can bo brought to the producing stage at an outlay of £ls per acre, that is to say, it can be worked at a profit if one can spend £ls per aero on bringing it in—then by-'all means let us do it. To-day wo are said to have many men out of employment who are anxiously seeking work. Let us utilise them, or some of them, in scrub-cutting, ditching, fencing, etc., on the 300,000 acres, or part of it. If that is followed up at once by the plough wo shall be taking our first step toward prosperity and when the job is finished wo shall have probably 3000 eagor buyers on suitable terms, 10.000 new settlers in the North, and room made in the city for thousands more to help to make and consumo our primary and secondary industries. A strong man's job is this. Is Mr. Coates strong enough to tackle it! Auckland.