NO ROOM ON THE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20819, 11 March 1931, Page 14

NO ROOM ON THE LAND.

Sir,—l quite agree with A. D. Hamilton with regard to strong and capable men sitting about waiting for 14s a cay when there is idle land calling for hands to work it. Unfortunately, the Government does not take the same view. My husband and I were driven off the land-'-forced off by inflated interest, rates E.nd general fall of prices in stock. Si'i.cs then we have tried in vain to get buck ori the land, even as a managing couple. We have begged the Governmet to place us somewhere op land, and the answer waf; that we had to hold so much capital firs;, about one-third of the value of the land we wanted. They would rather let the land go back to waste and ruin than put a couple on to work and fetch it b.iek to its value. All we ask is to live and get a chance to go back to the land. Supposing we did all the farm work, and, if possible, improved the farm, why not allow us for improving it ? Then at some future date we might be able to taike it up again for ourselves. Tlere are hundreds of places, and hundreds of good practical farmers on the unemployed lists only too eager to go on the land if they had the chance of a living, instead of struggling on in poverty ,md minery in the towns. Make each man prove his ability and show references as to being capable of managing a farm, and then allow a wage according to the number of acres and responsibility put on hiri. Give eacli man six months' trial and if he does not make good or give satisfaction, put him off. On krge places where more than one is needed place a good farmer at the head and put cadets under him to train for farmers at a reduced wage, thereby looking after the land and keeping ; it in good use arid older, and also training more farmers for the future. Farming is a trade, not a playground. This would be fair to all and would leave the labouring jobs for men who are unfitted or incapable of working land. Give an honest, hardworking farmer a chance. Farmer's Wif:e.