SETTLEMENT SCHEME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22825, 9 March 1936, Page 10

SETTLEMENT SCHEME

LORD NUFFIELD'S INTEREST LARGE AMOUNT MENTIONED A PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION (Per United Press Association) DANNEVIRKE, March 7. Sir Alfred Ransom, ex-Minister of Lands, revealed in an interview to-day that Lord Nuffield on his previous visit to the Dominion had a project in mind for putting a considerable amount of money—the sum was not definitely stated by Sir Alfred Ransom, but is understood to' be f l,OOO;0OO—into land settlement in New Zealand or Australia. Sir Thomas Wilford had advised Lord Nuffield to visit the two dominions to ascertain the possibilities for himself. Before Lord Nuffield arrived in the Dominion on his first visit, Sir Alfred Ransom, who had been informed by Sir Thomas Wilford, got into touch with him by radio, and as a result Lord Nuffield's project had been discussed between them. Lord Nuffield's idea had been to settle unemployed men from Britain on the land. Sir Alfred Ransom at the time had not felt justied in recommending the Government to enter into a scheme that embraced only British immigrants and asked Lord Nuffield whether he would be prepared to consider a scheme for settling New Zealand .unemployed on the land. Lord Nuffield took the view that as his money had been made in England he would like to do something for the -working people there. He promised to give serioua consideration to Sir Alfred Ransom's proposal that the scheme should be worked on a 50-50 basis, one New Zealand family being settled "to one # British family. When Sir Alfred Ransom heard that Lord Nuffield whs again visiting the Dominion he hoped to be able to reopen the discussion, but as Lord Nuffield's stay was so short on this occasion he was unable to see him. Sir Alfred Ransom intends to discuss the matter with the present Minister of. Lands when he is in Wellington for the opening of Parliament.