THE SMALL FARM SCHEME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21987, 23 June 1933, Page 8

THE SMALL FARM SCHEME

The regulations which have now been gazetted provide the machinery for the prosecution of the scheme for the settlement of land, under lease, by persons who are registered as unemployed and persons whose settlement on the land would tend to reduce unemployment. The small farm plan, as it is called, is one in which there are distinct possibilities, provided that suitable men are placed on suitable land and provided also —as should present no difficulties in present circumstances — that such land as is acquired for the purpose of the scheme is secured at a reasonable price. The plan seems already to be meeting with greater success in some parts of the Dominion than may have been anticipated when the scheme for putting unemployed men on the land was adopted by the Government. A feature of the scheme which evoked criticism in Parliament, particularly from the Opposition, was that the expense involved would be so great as materially to diminish the allocations for ordinary unemployment relief. In spite of the obvious fact that the expenditure on relief works has largely been unproductive, and has provided only a temporary means of sustenance for the unemployed, there seemed to be an unreasonable fear that the plans of the Government for diverting some of the unemployment funds into another channel were illtimed, It can .no longer be argued, however, that these apprehensions were justified. Not only have suitable men taken such advantage of the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves as to have achieved independence from unemployment grants, but the Government is finding the land available for small farm settlement inadequate to the demand. What was apparently the main objection to the scheme, that it involved the transference of relief moneys from ordinary week-to-week sustenance work, seems to be receiving an answer now that the plan is being extended. In a statement concerning a project for the development of some thousands of acres of land in the north Tor close settlement, the Minister of Lands points ■ out that in the preparation of this area hundreds of unemployed will be temporarily engaged. The advantage of engaging men on useful work of this nature, in preference to employiiig them in the uninspiring routine of comparatively futile pick and shovel labour in the environs of the cities and towns, need not he stressed. The burden of unemployment taxation is weighing heavily on the shoulders of thousands of citizens in New Zealand, and those who are forced to contribute to the funds will do so willingly only so long as they are assured that the money is being spent wisely and productively.' The small f arm scheme commends itself as one of the few economic plans which the Government has introduced in its efforts to provide the unemployed with a future, and the extensions that are proposed appear to be soundly conceived. It is to be hoped that areas for development on the lines laid down by the Government may be opened up in the South Island. \ '■