SMALL FARM SCHEME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21883, 20 August 1934, Page 11

SMALL FARM SCHEME

PROGRESS AT TE KUITI DEVELOPING 9000 ACRES PRELIMINARY WORK IN HAND [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] TE KUITI, Saturday Good progress is being made with the small farm schemes in this district and approximately 9000 acres are being 'developed in the Otorohanga and Waitomo counties. There is a large amount of preliminary work entailed before any tangible results can be shown, as some of the areas that have been brought under the scheme compriso practically virgin country, while others have been partly developed and have gone back to secondary growth. No men who are not willing to work on the development of these small farms are eligible foi 8 a place in the ballot. To date there have been 51 houses erected. Stumping and clearing is going on, and teams are at work on the cleared ground to prepare for crops and new grass. Men are now engaged in scrub-cutting, bush-felling, fencing, draining and top dressing. Some three miles of permanent and temporary reads have been formed. In addition to the work which has been done under the small farms scheme the Land Department, with the help of the Unemployment Hoard, is reconditioning four properties under schemo 4C. Four prospective settlers have been selected and are occupying the houses on the respective properties. The good results obtainable fully justify the work under this scheme, which has now been in progress a little over two years. A ballot for houses at Ngatamahine block was held last Wednesday, and houses were allotted to the successful applicants, consideration being given to men with the largest families of school ago, to whom were allotted the houses nearest the school. Provision was also made for the temporary housing of an additional three families, and an endeavour. is being made to arrange for the accommodation of a further two immediately. As tho block has been farmed as one holding for at least 12 mbnths, the men are all on probation, but an endeavour will be made to establish them for thj? coming milking season, when it is hoped that the sections will bo self-supporting and will be definitely allocated to the approved settlers. This greatly depends on the men available for carrying out the development work.