PROBLEMS OF SETTLEMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1930, Page 7

PROBLEMS OF SETTLEMENT

FRIENDLY CRITICISM' OFFERED -• • ’ OPINION'S OF MR. W. J. POLSON, ■ ' . (By wire— 'Parliamentary Wellington, Last Night. Friendly criticism of the Lands Law* Amendment Bill was offered by Mt. W. J. Polson (Stratford )--in the House to-night. He expressed the opinion that the Minister of Lands had done, his best and a lot of snapshooting to which he had been subjected was not justified. The time had gone when lands could be settled easily and satisfactorily, and to-day the Minister had to look ibr land and tackle some very tough propositions. There was a lot of land between Napier and Taupo which was not fit for settlement, but he believed that x there was room for more settlement in the Wairarapa district. Mr. Polson defended the Land Settlement Board from attacks made upon it, although he was of the opinion that more practical farmers should be placed on the board. He wanted to help in every way possible*to bring about closer settlement, and if they could tackle third-class land and bring about some form of production they would be doing good for the Dominion He agreed that the quantity of land that should be made available to private companies should be increased as the. companies could not be expected to spend large sums of money in developing small blocks of land. ■ Mr. Polson said he believed in group settlement up to a point, but he thought it was wise to make a man work m his own section. He'would go so far as te give land to certain men and-later, make advances to them on their improvements. Capital and courage were needed for the settlement of land. He believed the Minister had the courage but was lacking in capital.