BETTER FARM LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20427, 2 December 1929, Page 5

BETTER FARM LIFE.

ENCOURAGEMENT OF IDEAL,, CADET GROUP SETTLEMENT. PROPOSAL OF THE LEAGUE. The immediate establishment, of a cadet group settlemeut scheme as the best solution by which early proprietorship may be possible for suitable young farmers, is advocated by the New Zealand Land Settlement and Development League. "The immediate establishment of such a scheme would mean the drawing of ambitious young men into farm life, giving a better standard of work and generally better conditions all round," writes Mr. N. G. Gribble, in outlining the league's proposals in view of the interest shown in the subject of living conditions on farms by recent correspondence in tha New Zealand Herald. It is suggested that suitable boys from. Now Zealand and the Old Country should, after a couple of years on selected private farms in either country, or, alternatively, a similar period in a recognised farm school, be formed into cadet groups to develop suitable land under expert guidance and supervision. When improved the selections should be individualised and, with buildings and stock, taken over at cost by the young farmers. On Unimproved Land.

The group area is suggested as from 2000 to 5000 . acres, preferably unimproved open country suitable for dairying and as close as possible to existing public facilities. Such land should be available under the Homestead Act, and, if not, special provision could be made. After community interests had been served by the setting aside for the benefit of the group of any natural timber, shingles, mineral or similar deposits, and reserving of any town business or industrial sites, li roadiug system should bo designed to meet the needs of the sections (oi about 60 to 100 acres) when individualised. All the steps from start to finish could be carried out by the board of group directors, which might consist of tv,o local farmers, one of whom should, if possible, have commercial experience, an officer of the Lands or Agricultural Departments, and, so.y, two monitors from among the cadets. The farm manager should have a seat on the board ex officio. Generally the work of development would be done bv mechanical labour, the cadets being brought actively in touch with the progressive steps so that they may become practical men. As soon as a sufficient area is established the nucleus of a first-class herd should be secured, and in this Rtiakura and other State farms should assist so that the young proprietors may commence with a good butter-fat strain. The care of stock would be practised during the training stage. The theory of agriculture and allied sciences should form part of the routine and the responsibility of management would be appreciated by adding monitors in rotation to the board of management. Plan of Improvement.

The plan of improvement would be devised to make i.': possible a certain proportion of the land suitable for individualising in about three years from commencement. Taking everything into consideration it should be the goal of the scheme to settle men on the land with suitable necessary but modest buildings and enough stock to make a living at from £l2 to £l6 an acre. If the buildings, for the central camp were suitably designed they could later form the initial part of the individual home of the young farmer.

The necessary finance should be obtained by the issue of bonds and should be secured over the land. The cadets should be allowed wages, but only pocket money would be passed over, the balance during the improvement stage being retained in the general funds of the group, and credited to the individual against the cost of the block which he settles upon. By such a method the assistance of a parent or relative would appreciably reduce the interest to be found by the young farmer. All the community assets mentioned earlier should be credited against the net cost,, and when from th<3 combined sources mentioned the section stands in the book of the group at, say, 66 per cent, only of the full capital cost, the title could bo given, secured by an instalment mortgage. Such a system would probably form the most rdmunerative contribution made by the Government to education.