THE GOVERNMENT’S POPULARITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1932, Page 8

THE GOVERNMENT’S POPULARITY.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The Hon. R. Masters in a speech in the Legislative Council remarked, “The Government is not the least concerned about its popularity.” Also that duty to the country was the main consideration of the Government. Had these remarks been passed by any member of the Government who gained a seat at the last election no exception could be taken to them, but such statements coming from Mr. Masters appear to-me as though he is not acting up to the traditions of a loyal New Zealander, and my reason for stating so is that he was never elected to the position which he now holds, and had he done his duty to the country as a true and loyal New Zealander he would have nominated for the Parliamentary Stakes last December. Air. Masters was a non-starter, yet he came out a double winner, with a seat in the Legislative Council and a member of the Cabinet. However. Mr, Masters is now endeavouring to impress upon the minds of

the electors that the Government is comprised of a very strong, and-fearless body of men, and no doubt he is right, because only recently this strong and fearless body of men had to call upon a number of newspaper editors to advise the' Government. what to do. Such an act perhaps shows power. Nothing was said during the last election campaign to the effect that the editors of the large newspapers were to have charge of the doings of the Government. The Prime Minister states that such practice has been frequently used in--Britain, but such fact does not signify that New Zealanders are going to be dictated to by newspaper editors.

Our present strong and fearless Government is now; looking for land for settlement, and although I have been taking up considerable space in your columns for the patt six months endeavouring to explain that there is five million acres in the ‘‘mystery block” at "Taupo waiting for some man-power to develop it, our fearless body of Government members are afraid to even mention the land, let alone acquire it and put an army of the men upon development' work.' Air. Connolly, M-P. for. Mid-Canterbury, told the House of Representatives very plainly that the present. Government .was not doing anything ; sound, as regards land settlement, and I feel sure that every calm-thinking person in the country will agree with such statement. The ideas, of the Government appear to be to get an army of market gardeners in the country. Air. Coates has taken about six months to devise a scheme whereby unemployed men are to run round begging from landowners for the use of five-acre plots of land, then beg for a cow, pig, fowls, etc., to stock the plot, - and bug still further for work in the vicinity of the plot in order to pay interest on the value of the outfit. This scheme can fittingly be termed the “beggars’ plot scheme.”' No doubt there is room tor a very limited number of small plot-holders or market gardeners around the various towns, but if such limit is exceeded it will mean that a number of preseut-day small holders -will be thrown out of business through overproduction of produce which can be produced on, say, a five-acre farmlet. Such farmlets do not produce much exportable goods, and it is such goods that we want as we have ample supplies of all goods for local-requirements, in fact over-supply at present, even to flour. I mention flour because of the fact that a few weeks ago a mock naval battle was fought out at sea between Navy vessels and air-fighters and the bombs used were bags of flour. If the authorities get in touch with me next time they want some bombs I will bag up some of the “mystery block” pumice sand and send it to them in exchange for flour. There would be no danger of such bombs damaging the naval officers’ uniforms. ‘

There is room for a large number of settlers on the “mystery block," -but I am afraid that the present “Confusionist” Government is not game to tackle any large progressive land settlement policy; the five-acre plot “beggars’ scheme" is just about up to the limit of our administrators’ ability as land developers. An area like the “mystery block" would allow settlement on decent sized holdings which would be capable of producing exportable goods, such as butter, cheese Jamb, mutton, beef and wool, all of which are payable providing the land is not burdened with .past mistakes and inflated value, and that is one favourable feature with the “mystery block”; it is lying idle just as nature made it. Wool prices are shockingly low at present, except for first rate quality, and that is what we have not got, except in about 20 per cent, of our flocks. The bulk of our wool has deteriorated very much in quality and get-up. Any settler starting out on maiden land at present has everything in his favour, but the trouble is that those who are willing to take on new country have no cash, and our present Government has so far made no attempt to assist men without capital to get on to new country such as the “mystery block.” A small attempt was made last December under the 40 settlement scheme and nine persons were settled, then the supply of land ran out, and the 1931 election was over for three years at least. Rather peculiar why both events should occur at the same time. This 40 scheme was a good plan and it would work well on the “mystery block” if given a chance. There are many thousands of good men who are quite willing to settle on new country under such a scheme because they can see some prospect of getting a holding of their own, whereas with 'the present system of filling in time on unproductive works there is no prospect ahead, for the workers or anyone else. Now that the unemployment relief fund is raised by a special tax for the purpose I fail to see any reason why a considerable sum from the funds cannot be set aside for the development and settlement of maiden land such as the “mystery block.” It would be a simple matter to put several thousand men on the “mystery block” upon

development work. There is now nd excuse regarding want of money because the funds are in sight, and such, funds, instead of being filtered away bn golf links arid camps for moioristsj should be utilised as above. The Government now has a great opportunity to show its duty to the country by undertaking the development of the “mystery block.” I feel sure that if the newspaper editors were consulted on this point they would agree' with my remarks, and I hope Cabinet will, consult, them at once.—l am, etc., SPEED THE PLOUGH. New Plymouth, April 11, 1932.