OPTIMISTICTONE

Southland Times, Issue 20666, 23 April 1929, Page 7

OPTIMISTICTONE

NEW ZEALAND’S FUTURE

WELL ROUND THE CORNER HON. P. A. DE LA PERRELLE’S VIEWS (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, April 22. “There is no doubt that the Dominion is now well round the corner,” was the opinion expressed by the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, Minister of Internal Affairs, who has returned to Wellington after a visit to the north. The Minister said that the Government was fully alive to the need of further improving the country’s condition, particularly in regard to land settlement and cheap money for farmers and workers. A vigorous land policy of smaller holdings was being put into force •by the Minister of Lands and the State Advances Office had endowed settlers and workers with cheap money to the extent of £3,000,000 in the last four months.

“We are in for an era of prosperity,” stated the Minister, “and if tempered by the judgment of the people themselves, a long period of prosperous times is ahead of the Dominion.” The people and the lending institution had realized that -the Dominion was round the corner and there was a justifiable feeling of optimism. The record in export trade for the past year was an example of the people’s thrift and enterprise and the surplus of £12,000,000 of exports over imports was an indication of the people’s determination to keep within reasonable limits.

Discussing the land question, the Minister said that one of the principal planks of the United Party’s platform was that small holdings capable of intensive cultivation in the vicinity of inland towns and near dairy factories, should be provided. By providing easy facilities for men with families to acquire land, the unemployment problem would be solved very largely.