UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20893, 8 June 1931, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD.

REPRODUCTIVE WORK.

PLACING MEN ON LAND

OPERATION OF SCHEME 48.

The Minister of Labour, Hon. S. G. ] Smith, who is chairman of Ihe Unemployment Board, has released for publica- j lion the following information concerning the operation of scheme No. 48. "The scheme," said the Minister, is proving a most important factor in placing unemployed men on the land, in bringing into occupation thousands of acres of previously unused land, and in developing largo areas so tliat they arc now capable of carrying considerably more stock and of growing additional crops. "The Unemployment Board provides a subsidy up to £75 per cpntract under this ■ scheme, based on 33 1-3 per cent, of the labour cost, and up to the present dale 247 contracts have been arranged. These are providing employment for about 600 men, and the total is growing each week. "The principal work carried out under the contracts has been the following:— Scrub-cutting, 4370 acres; draining, 3879 chains; fencing, 4634 chains; stumping, logging and clearing, 626 acres; bushfelling, 2919 acres; grubbing, 464 acres; sowing, 645 acres; top-dressing, 300 acres. "In addition to this important work, contracts have been undertaken involving the planting of 409,000 marram grass plants, the splitting of 400 posts, 360 chains of roading, 176 acres of ploughing and harrowing, and 40 chains of irrigation race "The commitments approved to date in connection with the cost of the contracts amount to £6425, and the expenditure of this sum is estimated eventually to result in the following additional stock being carried on the various holdings affected 2950 cattle and 14,606 sheep. Also 200 extra tons of flax are expected to be produced. "These results," concluded thb Minister, "are considered very satisfactory, and the board is hopeful of inaugurating other schemes which will have equally beneficial and lasting effects."