LAND SETTLEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20480, 4 February 1930, Page 14

LAND SETTLEMENT.

Sir, —The appropriate comments that recently appeared in the Herald regarding the proposed purchase by the Government of a large estate in Otago were timely but restrained. The continuance of such a policy calls for the strongest condemnation; it is not land settlement, merely land bartering, in which the Government usually conies out worst. They have invited and deserve the fullest criticism, having made such fervid promises of a sound and effective land settlement policy, their failure is all the greater. Tho acquisition of improved estates as a land settlement measure is entirely wrong while we have unused land. The solution of this problem is the utilisation of our idle lands; by this I mean Crown, native and private areas, and a stocktaking throughout the Dominion of all such land should be the first step in tho programme. An equitable expropriation of these areas should bo proceeded with as development requires them. A well-planned campaign of rapid development of our idle lands should bo put in hand immediately, utilising as many of our unemployed as is practicable in a sound, mechanically-operated programme. Tho loose statements that are current that unimproved land cannot bo brought into grass at a cost that will pay to farm emanates from individuals who aro entirely ignorant of modern farm,practice in land development. Gum land or loam soil carrying a growth of manuka or fern that can be handled by power machinery, presents no difficulties and can be brought into, grass, in one year, for £5 per acre, and in the third year, under properly regulated manurial treatment, would be capable of carrying 0110 cow to two acres at a cost of £7 per acre. This is being done on a large scalo elsewhere. In spite of the pessimism that is current today concerning farm development and profits, agriculture presents a great opportunity for tho safe investments of capital through tho medium of industrialised farming; it only needs a better understanding of agriculture and farming bv capital to induce a How of investment to our basic industry. Unfortunately, the Government departments that are responsible for the control and furtherance of this great industry seem to lack tho vision and equipment, that is necessary for its assistance and progress. The Departments of Land and Agriculture, operating a co-ordinated campaign of development of idlo land, could bring this huge frozen asset into production by highly industrialised methods and usher in a new era of farming prosperity. The Government, which attained power mainly upon its pledges of land settlement and cheap finance, is betraying its pledged word, by tho persistently destructive and futile practices which constitute its activities. The necessity for an immediate and progressive policy that will settle the land-hungrv upon our idlo lands and provide employment for our idlo hands demauds that the Government, mako some attempt to solve this problem or admit itn incapability and failure. John Desmond.