INFERIOR LANDS

Southland Times, Issue 20618, 17 October 1928, Page 5

INFERIOR LANDS

NEEDS OF SETTLERS MORE FINANCE FOR IMPROVEMENTS DISCUSSION BY FARMERS (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, October 16. “That the Minister for Lands be asked that deteriorated lands and lands given to second growth at present unoccupied be given to settlers free of rent for five years,” was a remit at the meeting of the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to-day. Mr P. Livingston (Hawkes Bay), a member of the Hawkes Bay Land Board, said what was wanted by the settlers on such lands was more finance in order to improve their lands. He considered the system of revaluation rotten to the core. The Government reduced the value and reduced the rents, but this was no earthly assistance to the unfortunate man on the land. What he wanted was finance to improve his property. The trouble was that unpractical men had the say as to how much should be advanced on these lands. It was no use reducing values or rents if the man on the land had no capital with which to improve his property. Land boards were humbugged all the time by political interference. What was wanted were business men who knew the value of land. The president (Mr W. J. Polson) said he was pleased to hear the remarks which had fallen from Mr Livingston, who was a practical man. He (Mr Polson I had long held identical views to those which Mr Li rings ton had just expressed. It was decided that the president and Mr Livingston should draft a remit for submission to the next meeting of the executive.