FARM PROBLEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22961, 12 February 1938, Page 16

FARM PROBLEM

'ABANDONED HOLDINGS

RESULT OF POOR RETURNS

VISIT MADE BY MINISTER

TREE-PLANTING SUGGESTED

[BY TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] CHRISTCHT7RCH, Friday

*' This is a tremendous problem," said the Minister of Lands, tho Hon.' F7 Laxigstone, when lie visited abandoned farms at tho Tripp Settlement, five miles from Gcrakline. Evidence put forward by settlers disclosed that the gross return from some of the farms scarcely exceeded £IOO a, year. The Minister said that the cases would be heard by the Adjustment Commissions, that the amalgamation of holdings would be considered, and that tho Department of Lands would conduct experiments in soil reconditioning. ■ ' Mr.' Langstone also mentioned the possibility of legislation which would mike it possible to declare certain farms as uneconomic areas, so that these could be rented at a nominal charge. If nothing else could bo done, he said, trees would have to be planted.

■ Sections Too Small The major trouble seems, to be that the sections, are too small," said Mr. Langstone. If it were a losing proposition to grown grain the only, alternative'seemed .to bo trees. Soil improvement aofl drainage, however, might effect an improvement, and it was the department's job to find out. An abandoned property could be used for experimental purposes, he continued, hut as matters stood, it did not seem much use giving farmers more land if they'did not have the capital to work what thejr already held. " The settlement was foredoomed to failure from the start," said Mr. T. I). Burnett, M.P. for Temuka. "It should never have been taken"up in the first place." The problem of over-subdivided foothill country extended from Waimate to Oxford, and the Tripp Settlement was merely .an outstanding instance. At present it was not only a liability, but it was breaking the hearts of the men

Bent Remission Three years ago he had said the Government would have to face the position, and he had advocated granting a 10-year period free of rent, Mr. Burnett continued. On the Tripp Settlement that was the first Step toward a solution, and tho tenants would be left with all their available capital for development work. In addition, the State could take an abandoned property and develop it as an example. Mr. Langstone: What about the chap with a gross return of £llO a year? .What good would a rent remission be to him? I don't care a darn if you gave him 50 years rent free, he would still be living in poverty. Mr. Langstone said that the abandoned areas counted for nothing. If all th 6 tenants on uneconomic areas walked out problem would probably be simplified. If nothing rise could be done, trees would have to be planted. Mr. Burnett: That is an admission of defeat.

Mr,- Langstone: No. Forestry is as much farming as sheep or grain. The return from forestry, when we get it, is going to be a return.