BOTHA'S LAND POLICY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12745, 24 April 1912, Page 8

BOTHA'S LAND POLICY.

In a speech at Loseberg, on September 25 last, General Botha announced that the Government in tho^near future would proceed with*a great agricultural policy, the first step in Avhich would b© the settlement on the land of the people Avho had drifted into the towns, Avhere they Avere unable to make a living. A system would be followed enabling settlers eventually to become proprietors. He emphasised that only those Avould be helped Avho Avished to help themselves. Referring to immigration, he said •he had riot the slightest idea Avhy the question Avas brought up. The Government had not departed from the policy laid down in the programme of Nationalist principles, namely to enable those in the country to make an existence before there was any question of importing a single man into South Africa. HoavouUl carry out that programme no matter Avhat storms it caused. He was in favor of immigration, but at the proper time. When they got immigrants, they should get good farmers, not, loafers. He declared that the Unionists Avanted immigration fo 1 ' the thickliest populated parts of South Africa as they Avanted more votes, and suggested that there .Avas a very fine opening, in a good part of the countiy, namely, Rhodesia,. 6t\ which t'he Unionists should fix their attention.