LAND SETTLEMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16826, 13 December 1928, Page 13

LAND SETTLEMENT

QtJESsTION OF FINANCE

SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION

"Our most, important work at the moment appears to lie in bringing pressure to bear on the Government so that there may be no side-tracking or postponement for political reasons of the establishment of a suitable scheme ol settlement, ami coincident therewith a migration policy basod upon our rural requirements," states a report adopted at a meeting of the executive of Ihe Now Zealand Land Settlement and Development League. "There are nidications that if opinion is sufficiently stirred the broad lines of such a policy may be agreed upon by the three political groups in the Dominion to-day. and the great national work carried out by a settlement and migration commission of which the league should undoubtedly be the nucleus." The report states that so far as a local supply of voting farmers is concerned, it is obvious' the' rural population is stationary, and that men and hoys in the towns'are unwilling to fill existing vacancies in the. country. This reluctance is undoubtedly due to the fact that under existing conditions there is little chance of proprietorship until lattr in life. Meetings addressed bv the secretary. Mr N. fi. dribble indicated the thoughtful working man and many of those at present unemployed Would gladly welcome any opportunity of getting on to land for merely a subsistence allowance, if they might look Tn three or four years' time to having their own holdings encumbered only by the adual cost, of establishment. There could be no doubt that a, sum of £IOOO would he sufficient for tins purpose under ordinary circumstances. "The ordinary seller is seldom able to offer terms which will permit, of the impecunious making a start, and the State.. while it offers facilities under the Homestead Act (unimproved lands) and the Land Laws Amendment Act of 1928 (improved lands), still leaves the man of small means unable to make a start. Official circles report a shortage, of. Crown lands suitable for large groups ol settlers under an assisted scheme, and it would appear desirable that some system of amining and classifying these lands according to the branch of the farming industry to which thev are most suitable should be commenced at once. "In addition, lists should immediately be obtained of all lands which the holders are prepared to make available under the Land Laws Amendment. 1928. In the opinion of the league there has. during the past few years, been a substantial adjustment and rearrangement of rural finance, and the pressing business at this time would appear to be the settlement of as many suitable persons as possible on the lands as quickly as possible under some 'group' or 'zone' system."