UNIQUE FARM COLONY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21115, 24 February 1932, Page 10

UNIQUE FARM COLONY.

RESOURCE OF UNEMPLOYED. _ s A COMMUNITY IN TENTS. DISPELLING SPECTRE OF WANT. [FROM OUR OWN COIITIKSI'ONDKNT.] PUKEKOHB. Tuestln y. Dwelling on a farm in tho Franklin County is a small community of city people who appear to liavo found a method of solving tho unemployment problem on lines which arrest attention. The necessary avenue having been opened, they arc adopting an open-air agricultural life, which is at least proving effective in dispelling the spectre of want. Ample foodstuffs against winter needs have already been grown and, to give further variety, other crops arc being raised. It was through the medium of common ties that these city folk were led to seek a Jiew life in the country. The members arc converts to the belief that the world is now passing through the final period of its existence. Their leader is a doctor of philosophy, who promulgates the view that a Biblical prophecy of mankind's last days is now being fulfilled. He is also a well-known dietitian, and all the members of the colony arc vegetarians. Seeing the need of unemployed people in the city with whom his religious teaching brought him into association, ho suggested last winter to the owner of a farm near Karaka, who was also interested in his religious views, that he should place a portion of his farm at their disposal. Deciding that as he had over 300 acres it would be no hardship to fall in with the proposal, the farmei offered the use of 15 acres. The ordinary conception of business was disregarded. The farmer said in effect: "There is the land. Make whatever use you can of it." It was decided that he should be entitled to any produce the colony grew in excess of its own needs. Establishing the Camp. Tents were obtained and pitched behind a stately shelter-belt, where they look out on to the road near by. Here a colony of slightly under a score of people has been established. Industry and contentment mark the camp, and the first permanent building is now being erected. It is of fcrro-concrcte, shingle for the con-crete-mix having been obtained from tho foreshore, which is within easy distance of the farm. There will be three rooms and a bathroom. One room is to be used as a bed-sitting room, another as an office, and the largest as a small store for dried produce. August marked the opening of the camp, and in the intervening period the 15 acres has been made to produce abundantly. Over acres of potatoes are now being cultivated, and the yield promises to be aboufc 20 tons. A similar area of garden peas has been cut and harvested into three stacks preparatory to threshing. About four acres are in beans of various kinds, including haricot and lima. Buckwheat, sweet corn, popcorn, tomatoes, 10,000 beetroot seedlings planted out by hand, a few thousand cabbages, kumaras, pumpkins, watermelons, celery, parsnips and carrots are also well forward. Help has been forthcoming from the farmer in the way of ploughing and working the ground with his horses and implements, and in providing seed and manure. In return, the colony sees to it that he has no labour problem, the menfolk giving their assistance in the seasonal work on the farm, such as dipping sheep and cleaning drains. As the crops are harvested, the landowner will receive further reimbursement in kind from the surplus. Creation oi a Common Fund.

As outside employment offers it is accepted, and in this way cash is earned by members of (he colony. lor instance, ono member who is a builder at present has a contract of several weeks' duration in ono of the suburbs. Again, certain members have a small pension. A common fund from outside income is established to pay for bread, butter, tea, sugar, fruit and other requirements that have to be purchased by the camp. The erection of a grinding mill to make pea flour and bean flour is contemplated. One member has also provided several hives of bees, while the growing of grain next season may also enable the colony to keep poultry. Timber sides have been provided to the tents, giving extra protection from the weather. The materials for the concrete dwelling have so far represented an outlay of only £SO in cash, and the walls are nearly completed. No permanent tenure lias apparently been sought from the farmer, mutual goodwill being considered sufficient. Twenty years ago the land was growing scrub, being of a light nature usually classed as second or third-class. By his own industry, the farmer, a New Zealander in the prime of life, has developed it into a very fine holding, giving him a very attractive living. It is now affording him the pleasure of providing a living for many more folk.