THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1932. THE SMALL FARM SCHEME.

Wairarapa Age, 6 July 1932, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1932. THE SMALL FARM SCHEME.

In spite of some adverse criticism to which it has been subjected, the small farm plan for the relief of unemployment appears to hold excellent possibilities provided it is developed in an enterprising way. Though it has been made plain from the outset that the plan is not one of independent settlement, but is subsidiary to existing settlement, a good many critics have fastened on the point that ap. area up to ten acres is in most cases too small to give the occupier a living. This, of course, is recognised. The idea of the small farm plan is to enable the occupiers to supplement, with the produce of their holdings, their earnings in rural employment. The plan is being financed with unemployment funds and the immediate object is to provide mon who are now out of work with employment and sustenance. It seems likely that this result will be attained on an extended scale, with considerable benefit to the men' concerned and their families and also to those now engaged in farming industry. 'Though it is not

in itself a settlement scheme, it seems likely that the small farm, plan will pave the way to an ultimate extension of settlement. No doubt many of those who establish themselves successfully on small farm holdings will later find or be given an opportunity of becoming independent settlers. Evidently, however, the Unemployment Fund is already sufficiently burdened without being called upon to finance the extension of land settlement.

Promising as the possibilities it holds undoubtedly are, the small farm plan does not appear to be making in this district and in some others as rapid headway as could be desired. In the Wairarapa, some land has been given and more has been offered on lease as small farm holdings, but except in the case of one area at Featherston and another presented by Mr. W. Perry at Penrose, some particulars of the development of which are given in another column to-day, the whole enterprise seems to be still at an indeterminate point. The local officers of the Department of Agriculture have been actively at work for weeks, forming local committees and dealing with Offers of land, but, with the exceptions mentioned, results of a positive kind are delayed. Some reasons appear for apprehending that the central departmental machinery created to deal with the scheme is too cumbrous and slowmoving. While it is essential that action should be orderly and wellconsidered, the responsible authorities concerned should be ready to recognise the importance of demonstrating as soon as possible that the scheme is practical and workable. The small farm plan cannot be better recommended and its extension cannot better be facilitated, than by providing as soon as possible examples of its successful operation. Most of what has been said officially in recommendation of the plan so far has been of an anticipatory character. If the plan is to develop as it should and serve its intended purpose, its extension must be facilitated and encouraged by progress reports of actual and satisfactory achievement.