SETTLEMENT OF LAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21328, 1 November 1932, Page 13

SETTLEMENT OF LAND

MR. D. V. BRYANT'S SCHEME RELIEF OF UNEMPLOYED NEED OF MORE PRODUCTION Land settlement, with particular reference to the scheme launched by Mr. D. V. Bryant, of Hamilton, was the subject of addresses given by four speakers at .a luncheon of the Auckland Rotary Club, held in the Milne and Choyce Reception Hall yesterday. The gathering was presided over by Mr. T. IT. Wells, president of the club, the speakers being Messrs. Bryant, H. Valdor and W. Goodfellow and Dr. H. E. Annelt. Mr. Bryant said that between the timo of arriving at the luncheon and giving his address he had received two further donations of £IOO toward the nucleus fund of £20,000 with which tho scheme was to bo started. It was proposed to buy an estate, mark off roads and individual sections, then place a camp in the centre of the estate. Unemployed carpenters and tradesmen would be the first occupants of tho camp, and they would erect houses on tho sections. They would bo paid the Government sustenance, their food being supplied by the directors of the scheme. Acquiring the Land Married men and their families who would occupy tho houses would draw the Government sustenance while tho land was being developed and at tho outset would bo asked to work on the community basis. Those who made good would qualify as applicants to acquire tho land for themselves. When tho tradesmen had erected tho houses tho camp would bocome empty and would bo rcoccupicd by single unemployed men from the towns. These men would receive farming instruction and it was hoped by this means to attract from tho city young unemployed and interest them in farming. ])r. Annctt said that in his opinion the scheme would bo a great success. Excepting possibly some parts of Australia, New Zealand had tho greatest potentialities for dairy farming in tho world. Somo of the research work in New Zealand was of a value equal to any in the world, but he thought it might suffer as a result of Government economy. He urged them to see that it did not suffer. If one had a proper scheme it was possible to produce butter-fat at a cost of 8d or 9d a lb. Attracting Capital What was wanted was for people to be settled on tUp land on a sound financial basis. He was satisfied that Mr. Bryant's scheme was sound. Legislation and pessimism had tended lately to frighten capital away from the land. What they wanted was an example to the community that land was a sound investment. 'Die scheme would be an example in attracting capital to the land. It was not sought to give people a fortune, but a comfortable living. Ho asked them to support the scheme. "In my opinion it is a thoroughly sound scheme," said Mr. Goodfellow. It was sound because it was backed by £20,000 and supported and managed by experienced people. It attacked unemployment, which was the greatest problem to-day. If successful it would stem the drift to tho city and turn it back again to the land. Results of Ottawa At the Ottawa Conference it was realised that the only way out of the prevailing difficulties was to increase production substantially or raise prices. For political reasons the British Government could not impose upon foreign dairying countries a quota that would give higher prices. The tariff, however, should make dairying in 'foreign countries unprofitable and turn them to other avenues of agriculture. As prices could not be raised by a quota system, the only thing to do was to make present prices pay and increase production. He commended Mr. Bryant's scheme to their support. Mr. Valder said it was the duty of Rotarians to support the principles on which the scheme was based. There were only two factors in the problem confronting the world. These were life values and property values. The solution was to put them in their proper order of importance. Mr. Bryant's plan was doing this. The scheme would bear examination as to embodiment of Rotary principles. lie suggested that they should examine its functions in meeting a national problem and ask themselves if they could suggest any improvements. He commended it to them from the ethical and practical points of view and asked them to give it moral and financial support.