“NOT A FORM OF CHARITY”

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1932, Page 7

“NOT A FORM OF CHARITY”

SMALL FARM RELIEF PLAN GOVERNMENT GUARANTEES RENT. ‘■WILL NOT PURCHASE SECTIONS.” ELUCIDATION AT STRATFORD. Farmers were not to look upon the small farm scheme a© a form of charity, as the Government would guarantee the rent, stated Mr. W. Harris, officer of the Department of Agriculture who is in charge of the scheme in Central Taranaki, in his address at a public meeting attended by about 50 persons in the Stratford Town Hall last night. Mr. Harris announced that the Government would not purchase sections but would lease with a purchasing clause. The plan was described by Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., as a genuine attempt to do something that would benefit not only New Zealand producers but also many unemployed. The rental, he said, would be 5 per cent, on the unimproved value of the • sections, so no farmer could expect to profit to any extent by the disposal to the Government of ten acres. The plan was not ©o intended, but a farmer who had set apart a section was permitted to nominate from registered unemployed the family he would like to occupy the land and was protected in his future dealings by the guidance of the central committee. A description of the cottages was given, with an outline of the stock likely to be required. The Government and the committee between them would see that the family received work or the equivalent in sustenance. Wages would be at current rates but for the most part a system of bartering services or material would prevail. “ESSENTIALLY ELASTIC.” The scheme was essentially clastic and Mr. Polson quoted instances of the small farm plan being adapted for share-milking purposes and for the occupation of much larger- areas than ten acres. Mr, Polson spoke for about threequarters of an hour, entering very fully into details of the scheme. Some misconceptions held by farmers concerning the plan were dealt with by Mr. Harris, who said he believed families could be settled at from 25 to 40 different points about his district to the material advantage of farmers in the vicinity. Where a family was not particularly nominated farmers could rest assured that only an experienced man would be sent by the committee. Mr. Harris ©tressed that farmers were not to look upon the scheme as a form of charity for the Government would guarantee the rent. The Department of Agriculture was sponsoring the scheme and Mr. A. H. Cockayne, Assist-ant-Director-General of Agriculture, would be at Stratford on Thursday, when he was prepared to meet anyone interested. The total establishment fund for each man was £5OO and it was important to note that th© Government would not now entertain the purchase of sections but would only lease with a purchasing clause. -He wanted farmers to understand that this was a straight-out honest scheme with no catch whatever in it. BUILDING OF COTTAGES. To Mr. S. Maealister Mr. Polson explained that cottages would cost only £l3O erected on the farm. This was a contract price but he understood cartage of material had to be added. Mr. Harris explained that the material was already on hand; therefore a private builder could not erect on. a cheaper basis. The intending occupier could assist in. the erection if he were capable. Mr. J. C. McDowall was told that the cottage would remain the property of the Government, but the owner of the farm would be given an opportunity to buy if ever it became permanently unoccupied. Mr. Polson assured Mr. H. J. Kaye that where a farm was partly hilly and partly level the tciuacre allotment would be valued separately. • Mr. S. Thompson asked if the scheme would not compete with existing labour, but he was told that men were proposed to be established only at interval© about the country where a prior investigation had shown that work would °bc forthcoming. To Mr. R. Aylward Mr. Harris stated that the total liability on a man taking up the scheme would be £5OO. Interest on that ©urn at 5 per cent, would be about 10s a week. This the man had to pav. The Mayor (Mr. P. Thomson) presided.

TEN ACRES GIVEN AT ORINGI.

GRANT BY MR. W- H. GAISFORD.

Py Telegraph.—Press Association.

Palmerston N., Last Night. Mr. W. H. Gaisford, Oringi, has made a rrift of ten acres under the email farm scheme. The land is of good quality about two miles from the Oringi railway station, within easy reach of the school and other facilities, and is well located for’ the purposes of the small farm scheme.