LAND SETTLEMENT BILL

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 16, 4 October 1929, Page 2

LAND SETTLEMENT BILL

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE SMALLER HOLDINGS PROPOSED WELLINGTON, Oct. 4. The Hon. G. W. Forbes, moving the second reading of the Land Laws Amendment Bill in the House to-night, stated that the present unemployment situation indicated that there was something wrong with trie economic position of the country, and to .mid a remedy it was necessary to examine the primary industries, on which the wealth of the Dominion largely depended. From such an .examination, there became apparent a need tor closoi settlement on the land, and it was the Government’s aim to bring such a change into effect. The two main purposes of the Bill were to bring into use undeveloped Crown Lands, and to increase settlement on already occupied lamb The Bill provided five millions sterling in addition to the amount at present authorised (one million) for the former purpose. He had travelled through the country, and he was satisfied that thcio was fair scope for the settlement of undeveloped areas. Anyone going on to such land, however, would have a difficult task at the outset, and the provisions of the Bill were 'designed to give assistance in overcoming this difficulty. The whole success of the Bill depended on the administration of the powers given by it, and it was his determination to sec that they .were employed in the manner that would bo in the best interests of settlement of land. Five Millions to Spend Mr Downic Stewart: is there any limit to what you can spend annually? Mr Forbes: No, there is no limit to what can be spent in any one year, but when five millions is spent w t c can, if necessary, come back to Parliament for authority to provide additional funds. The main work in developing the policy would fall on the Local Lands Committees, which would consist of two practical men working in conjunction with the Commissioner of Crown Lands. It was necessary for the success of the policy to obtain the services of men with a knowledge of the land, and experience in employing it meji with judgment, who would bo able to say whether land was worth settlement or The main Board, the Lands Development Board, would consist of himself (as Minister of'Lands), the Under-Sec-retary of Lands, the permanent head ot the Department of Agriculture, the permanent hhad of the Treasury, the principal accounting officer of the Department of Lands and Survey, and the superintendent of the State'Advances Department. , Mr Forbes stated that the land would be selected and prepared, after which it would be subdivided and balloted for. Power was given to the Development Board to ! make advances to Crown tenants for the erection of buildings, and other improvements, up to ninety per cent of the value of the completed ttV of tv, Bin dealing with the closer settlement of occupied lands, referred to methods of acquiring land. _ .

Compulsory Acciuisitiou He hoped that it would not be necessary to employ the clause in relation to compulsory acquisition. That was one of the last things that any Munster would desire to put into operation, but there may be aggravated cases m which the interests of the country do manded the adoption of such a step. The old system of subsidiary valuation rolls would be abolished and the amount of compensation would be fixed by a Court, under the Public Works A Mr F Waite said he thought that all nartics " in the House would agree as o the importance of any policy that would promote land settlement. H. could not see anything really new in the Bill except the provision of nye millions' for "-doping Crown lands. It had to be recognised that such . could not be brought into use y ithout cost and that expense had usually fallen L the settler. He ntatccl there was a desire in some parts ot tnc country to get on to the land, but mostly to got on to small blocks, and not ‘Vas of second and third c ays land He Is glad that the Bill proved for the classification of land. Thei was a. danger of settling P C 9P® g country that could not pay, , costs of production decreased and prices for produce increased, and such a step would be very costly. Relieving the Farmers To state what was required to keep people on the land, and to encourage others to settle there was to give relief to the farmer. The Bill seemed to lii mto resemble a plan to provide woik for the unemployed rather than a lan settlement scheme. The Minister had referred to tnc responsibility that rested on him in administering 'this legislation, but Mr Waite pointed out that it seemed that however much the Minister wanted to get on with his policy, he was likely to be impeded by the necessity ±or having the consent of the Lands Development Board for practically every move that ho desired to make. Improvement of Conditions Mr Waite suggested that an improvement of the general conditions of people on tbc land, in relation to schools, rural communication, dental clinics, etc., would do more than the Bill to increase land settlement. Mr W. L. Martin pointed out that the Bill provided for an extensive reading scheme that would go a long way towards improving the conditions of farmers. He looked forward to the time when small holdings would bo a feature of the dairying industry of this country. Mr Poison’s Support Mr J. Poison said that the Bill did not go as far as he wished and was j more or less colourless, but ho would r support it, as it was capable of conferring a good deal of benefit if cap: iibly administered. He stated that there had been many instances of reversion and deterioration of settled lands, and he thought that those areas should first be brought back into a state of production, before tackling undeveloped portions that were not equally suitable; for settlement. He regretted that it was not proposed to deal with native lands and that the freeholder in the bade country had boon overlooked. Cheap capital and good roads wore .iust as important to the latter as to the tenants of Crown lands. He criticised the personnel of the Lands Development Board which he said, lacked fresh blood, and consisted of officials wbo were already members

of a sufficient number of Boards to constitute a nightmare tor them. What was required for the development of freehold areas, particularly in the back country, was assistance in the form of better roads, reduction in local rating, complete relief for a period from taxation (these lands would not be affected by the Taxing Bill) and. finance. Personnel of Board Mr W. J. Broadfoot also criticVcd the Lands Development Board, which, he said, seemed to be paramount to a cabinet in relation to lands purchase. He further questioned the wisdom of appointing members who were attached to several other Boards. Mr Broadfoot added that he favoured the development of idle lands in preference to taking improved estates. Mr A. M. Samuel stated that the Land Settlement question was one of such national importance that he waa sure every party would do its best to assist the Government. Me personally favoured devoting attention firstly to carefully selected virgin lands, and he trusted the Minister would not be hampered by an over-cautious Board. The Hon. G. Forbes had stated ho would take full responsibility for tho operation of the Bill, and in view of that announcement, the Board had no reason to adopt a too conservative attitude. Mr Samuel remarked that the Bill contained no provision for the purchase of stock for settlers. Mr Hogan’s Views. Mr J. T. Hogan said thatjic looked on the Taxation Bill as tho ; first instalment of the land settlement scheme, and the present Bill as the second instalment, and he trusted that both measures would be placed ou the statute book. Ho applauded the provision of five million for the development of land, and said ho hoped that at a later date, the Minister would consider tho improvement of derelict freehold farms. Mr Hogan thought it would be wise to give both the development of unoccupied lands and the closer settlement of already occupied lands a trial, the former to absorb the general unemployed, and the latter to provide work for unemployed settlers. Ho said he had not much fault, to find with the Lands Development Board, as it was on advisory boards that the Minister would have to place most reliance. The personnel of the central Board waa suitable from the point of view of the machinery work that it would have to undertake.