THE MAN ON THE LAND

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1926, Page 7

THE MAN ON THE LAND

PRINCIPLE OF STATE AID. SELF-HELP TO COME FIRST. It has been made quite clear by the Minister for Lands, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, in addressing various gatherings of settlers since he left Auckland for the North, that the Lands Department does not intend to offer a helping hand to the settler who is not prepared to help himself. The Minister had something further to say on the question of land settlement when addressing a gathering at Waipapa. He said that no man or woman 50 years ago would have asked for the.privileges that are being sought by the present generation. He said that he knew that tSere were a number of people who were not prepared to tackle the conditions in the country, but he was not prepared to blame tffem wholly after seeing what inducements were offering in the towns. However, if the land were to be brought into production the difficulties would have to be faced, the commercial aspect had also to be watched, and this remark applied equally to gum land. The Government wanted a young man who at the age of 25 had saved between £lOO and £l5O. As long as he had some money they would not worry so much about what they would get in the way of rent. The Minister said that he was strongly opposed to land for which about £1 10s an acre was asked Being held for speculative purposes. If he remained long in office he would see that was made use of.