LAND FOR MIGRANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1925, Page 8

LAND FOR MIGRANTS.

QUESTION OF ASSISTANCE. ALLEGATION OF SPOON-FEEDING. FARMERS EXPRESS VIEWS. (From Our Own Reporter.) Stratford, April 7.

The question of caring for young immigrants and placing them on land of their own after they have received a certain amount of training was fully discussed at a conference of the three Taranaki A. and P. Associations at Stratford to-day. As a result it was agreed to send on the following remit, which was tabled by the Taranaki (New Plymouth) Association but was not hall-marked with the approval of the association, with the idea of promoting further discussion at the New Zealand conference on this important subject :—“That this conference directs the attention of the Government to the large number of lads and young men being attracted to tills Dominion for training as farmers, and is of the opinion that steps should be taken to enable immigrants so trained to be placed upon the land on a sound economical basis.” The chairman, Mr. W. B. Grant (New Plymouth), said the remit was given to him from one of the chambers of commerce. Personally, he was not in favour of it because he considered there was too much spoon-feeding of youths now-a-days. When on the commission he visited all agricultural institutions in New Zealand, aud considered the Flock House at Bulls was the best of the whole lot. This institution catered only for the sons of sailors at Home, and the boys were continually under the supervision of officials of the Flock House, even after they went on to work after their two years’ training. Mr. H. H. Hunt (Stratford) moved that the conference should not approve of the remit. THE VALUE OF LAND. Mr. A, J. Barr (Stratford) pointed out that the remit called for the boys to be placed on the land on a sound economical basis. He saw no suggestion in the remit that the Government should give land to the boys. Moreover, he thought the placing of properly trained lads with a little capital was a splendid idea and a fine advertisement for New Zealand.

Mr. H. Sampson (New Plymouth) said the idea of the framer of the remit was to minimise the danger of “land sharks” getting hold of young immigrants with a little capital, and selling them totally unsuitable farms. He thought Taranaki land as a whole was costing far more than its producing value warranted, and it would be a good thing for the Government to secure blocks of suitable land, not only for immigrants, but for the settlement of local youths as well.

Mr. T. Perry (Stratford) was of the opinion that the Government was already sufficiently saddled with land schemes without running to further expense. Mr. E. A. Washer (Hawera) considered that youths should be left alone to make their own. way. The present tendency was to look too much to the Government for assistance, and this tendency should be squashed.

Mr. E. H. Linnell (Stratford) referred to the. glowing accounts of free land so freely circulated among intending immigrants at Home. He considered this matter should be rectified. Mr. Sampson said he did not think free land was being offered, but certain blocks were available, which they all knew were away in the backblocks and were not suitable for settlement.

The chairman said his experience was that where men had been settled on blocks of their own, the scheme had been mostly a failure, but where soldiers were placed on sections in the midst of other settled and experienced farmers they had madia a success of the venture. LOCAL BOYS FIRST. In reply, Mr. Hunt said if the remit went forward, a false impression might be created in the minds of intending immigrants. He thought immigrants would be better advised to accept conditions as they were at present and battle along as the early pioneers had done. He contended it was the New Zealand born youths whose fathers had carved out a home in the wilderness in the first place who should have, if any assistance was to be given. He was against any suggestion that would lead immigrants to believe they were coming out to rosy prospects, to be spoon fed by -a paternal Government, and to be placed on suitable land after only a few years’ training. Mr. Washer: “Give your own sons a chance first and get the boys back ou the land.”

Mr. Sampson: “Cheaper land is the only thing that will do it." Mr. Hunt: “What -about we older men who bought land at high prices and are just well enough off to keep on trying?” The chairman pointed out that the matter opened up a big question, for if financial assistance was to be rendered it would only be imposing heavier burdens by way of taxation on the rest of the community.

Some discussion and a good deal of criticism ensued upon the policy of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce in bringing out boys and placing them on farms for training purposes without making provision for their future well-being when they desired to obtain farms of their own. Opinion was by no means unanimous, but it was thought that the chamber had not gone far enough, for it was unfair to ask the Government to shoulder the responsibilities undertaken, in the first place, by an individual body on its own initiative.

Mr. Linnell moved that while the conference did not altogether approve of the remit, it was of the opinion that it should go forward in order to promote further discussion. The motion was carried and the remit was adopted.