FARM SETTLEMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8180, 23 July 1912, Page 8

FARM SETTLEMENTS

SCHEME EXPLAINED PROPOSAL LAID BEFORE A. AND P. CONFERENCE. SPECIAL TO THE "TIMES.” CHRISTCHURCH, July 22. At the recent conference of the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies of Canterbury the housing of farm workers was under discussion, and Mr M. Murphy, ex-secretary of the Canterbury A. and P. Association, ventilated some advanced views upon the subject. In the course of an interview with Mr Murphy a “Press” reporter today obtained some further particulars of the suggested scheme that are of interest at the present time, when Labor matters in the country are-in such a precarious condition. “I think,” said Mr Murphy, “the scheme is capable of greater expansion than is apparent at first sight. Blocks of good laud should be secured, to bo subdivided into lots of not more than throe acres. If of greater extent than this I think it would kill tho idea of laborers’ homes. Such blocks should he situated in the larger farming districts, tho sections to be sold or let on long leases with a purchasing clause, extending over lengthened periods. Annual payments would bo made providing for a sinking fund, which would in time secure the freehold to the occupiers. Should an occupier desire to retire from the scheme ho should bo allowed to sell his improvements only. “The settlements should be laid out with a view to becoming rural centres, providing ample spaces such as commons where tho young people would find room and encouragement to indulge in games. Schools would he provided if not already within reach, and an instructor could bo appointed to instruct tho occupiers regarding the growing of fruit and vegetables. As to the best system of working their sections lectures could be given during the long winter evenings. A readingroom could bo provided with papers and periodicals, and occasional entertainments might bo given in tho same building. “If tho workers and their families are over to be reconciled to living away from the largo towns, they must have at least some of the attractions of a city life. Boys and girls reared in tho country under pleasant social conditions would grow up into men and women preferring a country life to any other. “Tho cost of living would bo about one-half that experienced in the towns, and the system would be a kind of training ground, fitting the thi'ifty ones for taking up larger holdings. While it is admitted that the majority of farmers provide comfortable accommodation for their unmarried bands, it is always so in the case of .married men with families. It is certain many employers would be pleased to be freed from tho responsibility of providing continuous housing for large numbers of laborers. “The demand for farm labor is not like that in workshops—continuous—for at certain seasons of the year the' demand is much greater than during the rest of the year. The owners ox the suggested sections would be very glad at such times to have tho opportunity of making a cheque, which would enable them to meet their liabilities to the Government and other creditors.

“Mv scheme may be rather Utopian, hut we cannot get away from tho fact that great changes are rapidly coming over the industrial world. The farming industry of New Zealand is threatened with stagnation for the want of suitable and sympathetic labor. To my mind one of the greatest problems wo have to tackle is how to attract a rural population. I may be reminded that village settlements were started some years ago' and have not proved satisfactory. My reply is -to ask how the scheme as instituted could fail to be a miserable failure? Take tho village settlement at Dromore, for instance. Tho unfortunate settlers were allotted about twenty acres each of miserably poor land, a few inches of soil on shingle. They were unable to grow vegetables or anything else, and -had to send elsewhere tor what their land should have supplied. They did not have a chance, and the best thing we can. do is to draw a over that failure, and begin again dc novo.”