SMALL FARMS SCHEME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22901, 2 December 1937, Page 14

SMALL FARMS SCHEME

GRANTING OF LEASES PROMISES TO BE HONOURED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] "WELLINGTON, Wednesday An outlino of his policy regarding the settlement of blocks, under tho Email farms scheme, was given to-day by the Minister of Lands, the Hon. I. Langstone. * The Minister said there was evidently an impression abroad that the promises of the former Government would not be kept, in that small farm settlers engaged 011 development blocks would not get leases when the blocks were subdivided upon the completion of development work. He wished to state that where a promise had been made by the former Government in this respect it would be honoured, and that promise applied to the majority of tho original small farm blocks. The delay in the issue of leases might have been responsible for the impression that tho promise was not being kept. The Minister made it clear that these remarks applied only to original small farms, and not to blocks now being developed or about to be developed. This was being done at standard rates of wages, but workmen had been given no promise whatever of later receiving farms. "It is absolutely essential," said Mr. Langstone, "for the future successful settlement of these marginal lands that they should bis farmed under strict and proper control until all chances of reversion have disappeared."