LAND SETTLEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20257, 17 May 1929, Page 14

LAND SETTLEMENT.

Sir, —In my humble opinion the way to tackle- settlement is through the dairy companies. These boards of directoru have at their fingertips all that is known about land: who has too much, who would sell, who would lease, to what use any given piece could be most profitably put; dairy, grazing, sheep, fruit,; flax or forest/' They have intimate local' knowledge of men who would be worth; while backing, and if the choice of men; was left to dairy boards there would be few, if any, failures. It should be quite' possible for the Government to finance these companies with the view of nursing along for a few years men who would, do well, if working with the help and advice of such as are chosen to direct the affairs of dairy companies. Devonport, \V. D. Meiklejohn. May 15, 1929. .

Sir, —Some five or six years ago a scheme was initiated to bring English public school boys out to this country to work on farms. I was one of them. We were told that assistance would be given for starting, after we had fulfilled our apprenticeship. Many of us have now been in New Zealand for over six years. Yet : there is still no scheme laiinched to help those of us who want to be farmers. I, personally, am in love with New Zealand, and look forward to spending my life herie, especially if I can get a start at the work I am keen on, i.e., farming. After about four years' experience in both islands I can still see no hope of starting unless the Government fulfils its promise of assistance. In spite of being extremely careful (I should say I am a Scot!) I have only managed to save about £IOO, and cannot see much hope of starting without Government assistance for more years than one likes to contemplate. If the Government is chary about risking loans for us, why cannot it be done under supervision? I would be Only too thankful to bach if I could get some land and a few cows to start with. Public School, Bor.

Sir, —Referring to your sub-leader of Wednesday, does not the lack of confidence contribute largely to the present unsatisfactory settlement .position? We have had swelling of the towns, and the temptation of large financial groups to profit by this while withholding resources from the more remote parts. Feverish building activity in the cities has attracted people from the country, and, seeing that the ballot-box controls the position, cheap money must be found for workers' homes, whereas in the best' interests of us all it would be better to use the money to start settlers on the land. It would be more than remarkable if the handicaps to be faced had not proved too much for many farmers who have been obliged to give up, but this does not justify exaggeration to tho point ,of misrepresentation. To state, as has been done by even • Ministers of the Crown, that it does not' pay to take up land is to gravely mis-state the case. ' Tp-day the ordinary farmer who knows his job and who "bought right," is, judged by the standard of comfort, wellbeing arid potential independence, at least as well off as his town brothers with.equal opportunities. From the health standpoint there is, of course, no comparison. In New Zealand cultivation of the soil in some form or other offers healthy, profitable employment, and is the only occupation in which there is unlimited scope. Until this is generally appreciated we cannot hope to have a satisfactory land settlement position. N. G. Gribble.