SMALL FARMS SCHEME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25672, 21 October 1944, Page 6

SMALL FARMS SCHEME

UNITS MAINLY UNECONOMIC SETTLERS'. DIFFICULTIES (F.0.P.R.) v WELLINGTON, Oct 20. The opinion that the small farms established under the small farms development scheme were too small and were in the main uneconomic units was expressed by Mr S. W. Smith (Oppn., Bay of Islands) when the Land for Settlement estimates were under consideration in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr Smith said it would be to the benefit of all concerned if some of these areas could be combined into one unit. Mr Smith said that the people on small farms were living under very hard conditions. They were not getting a fair deal, and the department was getting the major share of the cream cheque and the proceeds of other commodities produced. The, tenants could get no tenure of any description, and there was no incentive to a settler to work his place if he could be “ tipped out ” at a" moment’s notice. These settlers remained on their holdings at the pleasure-or displeasure of the Minister. When the scheme was started by the previous Government, Mr Smith added, a definite promise was given that the. settlers would be given some tenure, but this had not been done. The Minister of Lands, Mr C. F. Skinner, said that already 200 small areas had been amalgamated and made into economic holdings.