FARMER’S GENEROSITY

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12084, 30 June 1932, Page 2

FARMER’S GENEROSITY

A generous offer by Mr S. G. Barnett, of Tirau, lias been laid before the Matamata Unemployment Committee. Air Barnett, who is the owner of 313 acres of dairy - ing land at Tirau, is prepared to take twj unemployed families, for whom be will provide two _ acres each. On one section there is already a house, and on the other he expects the Unemployment Board to erect a house. He will guarantee nine months’ employment for each family at a minimum of £ 1 per week, plus milk, firewood, etc. ; this sum to be subsidised by the Unemployment Board. If at the end of nine months the families proved to be potential farmers, be will then establish them on a 50-acre block each, provided the Government acquires the land on the basis of Government valuation of £ls per acre, and provided that the land feverts to the l.i.p. tenure, in order to prevent trafficking in it. Mr Barnett said it would not be necessary for the men to find horses or implements, as he would provide them for the first three years. In addition he would see that tlie men established got good quality 7 heifer calves from his own herd for two years, in order to give them a start. He would also generally supervise their activities to the best of his ability. The figures in regard to wages were riflly approximate. It was decided strongly to recommend the scheme to the Government.