USING " LIGHT " LANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20111, 23 November 1928, Page 16

USING " LIGHT " LANDS.

"UNDOUBTED POSSIBILITIES."

SMALL CAPITAL REQUIRED

SETTLEMENT LEAGUE'S SCHEME

Tho possibilities of settlement of tho "light" lands by men with sufficient capital, and who are prepared to work, art* most favourably viewed by a committer" of tho New Zealand Land Settlement and Development League, which has been closely investigating the question.

At a meeting of tho league executive held yesterday it was agreed that tin* necessity for setting up a. competent board of inquiry was more pressing than ever, and that it should be urged on the Government as soon as the present political situation was clarified. Hie chairman, Mr. A. A. Ross, said that after two years of investigation lie was convinced this was the first essential to tho return of prosperity. Mr. M. G. McAitlmr said tho committee set up had carefully considered the information received from men actually engaged in farming and had brought down recommendations which lie thought would bo generally approved.

The recommendations of the committer wero that thc.ro were undoubted possibilities on the "light" lands for men with sufficient capital and who were prepared to work. It had been proved that the initial cost of the land was so low that £IOOO would establish suitablo men on 100 acres, with buildings, stock, etc., sufficient to enable them to carry on. A dwelling suitable for a new settler could be erected for £3OO.

The committee believed that in any big schemes it was essential that the advice and assistance of local practical farmers should bo available to new settlers, and that, generally speaking, land should be broken in "wholesale" and farmed "retail." Somo sort of group or zoned settlement was essential for any scheme to assume a national character. The recommendations of the coin in i t tco concluded with the observation that it was essential for the prosperity of tho Dominion to establish as quickly as possible a sound settlement policy suitable for adoption under the Empire Settlement Act, and that the leaguo should receive recognition from tho British and Dominion Governments in this connection.

Mr. N. G. Gribble pointed out that immigration was closely associated with land settlement, increasing tho rural population was the soundest means of reducing unemployment and affording relief from heavy taxation.

It was decided to inform the Chamber of Commerce of the intentions of the league, and to have everything in readiness to impress upon the Government the urgency of the situation.