SMALL FARM PLAN

Southland Times, Issue 21773, 30 July 1932, Page 6

SMALL FARM PLAN

DISCUSSION BY OFFICERS. RELIEF OF UNEMPLOYMENT. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, July 29. With the object of discussing certain essential points of procedure affecting the small farm plan for the relief of unemployment, and of arriving at a unform basis for dealing with numerous points that have arisen concerning the scheme, a conference was recently held in Wellington between field officers of the Department of Agriculture from various parts of the Dominion. Until this preliminary work had been carried out, it was thought desirable to suspend for a brief period certain proposed activities. Arrangements have now been made with regard to the share-milking part of the plan, and all applications concerning this section of the scheme will be speedily dealt with.

Field officers of the department report that a number of offers of land and the terms attached to these offers have been reasonably satisfactory and that a very large number of applications from those desiring to be placed have come to hand. It is anticipated that no difficulty will be experienced in selecting from the applicants men who especially, by reason of previous experience, will be entirely suitable for farming areas available when the whole arrangements connected with the small farm plan are completed. It is stated that it is confidently anticipated that a large number of applicants will be able to improve their present position. The number of men who can be placed under the plan either on small holdings of about 10 acres or on the share-milking side of the scheme, will be determined by the available finance provided for under the Unemployment Amendment Act this year, namely £500,000.