LAND SETTLEMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21578, 25 February 1932, Page 6

LAND SETTLEMENT

EMPIRE LEAGUE’S SCHEME ADDRESS BY MRS JONES-NEILSON. An interesting' address on land settlement under the scheme followed out by the Empire Settlement League was given by Mrs Jones-Neilson, organiser and president of the league, in the Port Chalmers Town Hall last night. The Mayor (Mr J. Watson) presided. The attendance was very small, which was probably due to the unfavourable weather. Mrs Jones-Neilson first outlined the reasons for forming the Empire Settlement League. She said the foundation of her ideas was laid at the Lambeth Palace Conference held in London on July 23, 1929. The cottage scheme which Lord Lovat organised in Canada for the Empire Settlement League had been a success. Under this scheme each cottage .in the group settlement cost £212. When Lord Lovat visited New Zealand to discuss the Empire settlement scheme "'the Wellington Chamber of Commerce quoted £750 as the cheapest price at which settlement cottages could be built. The league had suggested to the Government to arrange for financing the scheme for properly selected applicants,. It was very difficult to approach the Government for support owing to the present state of depression. As a result those interested must make themselves self-supporting through the scheme and be a benefit to themselves and the community. The speaker said the unemployed in New Zealand numbered approximately 50,000, and these should be easily absorbed and made self-supporting by land settlement in small groups. Under the Empire settlement scheme there would be a centre of at least 500 families, 50 families being in each group. She explained the method by which all over-supplies of production from these groups would be disposed of. In_ return the settlers would' be with machinery, seeds, and other articles from the centre. There would be a small store in each group, from which the products of the land would be disposed of and goods for the settlers procured. If each of the families in the 10 groups spent £1 per week, it would mean a turnover of groceries and other articles alone amounting to £2600 per annum. The family groups would get a direct market for their produce. If settlers did not show that they could make good after the first 12 months, they would be replaced by other settlers. No difficulty would be experienced, how-’ ever, provided every settler was carefully selected. Under the Empire settlement scheme young men going on the land with their families would learn the work and in a few years would make good. Mrs Jones-Neilson referred to the Peaks Village Settlement scheme, which was founcled on the Horsley Down run in North Canterbury in 1887, when 18 settlers took up 900 acres of land on a perpetual lease. There had not been one forfeiture of this settlement, and it was worthy of note that all_ the original settlers were still there, with the exception of three, who had sold their interests. Many of the settlers had extended their holdings. The aggregate area of the settlement had been increased to about 8000 acres. The cottages in the settlement had a neat and comfortable appearance, and were surrounded by a plantation of sheltering trees. In conclusion Mrs Jones-Neilson said she was strongly opposed to any form of immigration until the Dominion had completely absorbed its own people. The Mayor said that Mrs Jones-Neilson" had placed some very interesting facts before them. There was not the least doubt about the Empire land settlement scheme being an excellent one, and it deserved the whole-hearted support of the people. . , x . After answering several questions, Mrs Jones-Neilson was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.