TEN THOUSAND FROM SERVICES

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 6097, 3 September 1947, Page 4

TEN THOUSAND FROM SERVICES

“More ex-servicemen than ever seem anxious to go on to the land, in spite of many gloomy statements to the contrary,” says the Minister of Rehabilitation (the Hon C. F. Skinner). “An estimate made by the. Rehabilitation Board last year, was that altogether about 8,000 ex-servicemen of the recent war would require to be settled on their own farms with rehabilitation-assistance, but an exhaustive survey just completed indicates that the total number will be about 10,000. This, of course, includes more than 4,300 men already settled, so that we shall evidently have to provide farms for another 5,700.

“Even though our task is now rather greater than it at first appeared, the Government, and the country, will welcome this manifestation on the part of so many ex-servicemen of a strong desire to go on the land, which will always be New Zealand’s greatest productive asset, and the basis of our whole economy,” said Mr Skinner. “As has already been the case, the great majority of- the men settled would, no doubt, go on to single-unit farms, mainly freehold, that they had themselves negotiated for. On the other hand, the rate of settlement on Crown sub-divisions was steadily increasing, and this acceleration was expected to be maintained in the future. “There should be at least another 2,300 men settled during the next two years, and of thse about 800 will be on Crown blocks and 1,500 on freehold farms,” said Mr Skinner. To the end of 1943 the number _>f men settled on their own farms was 179, in 1944 it was 442, in 1945 it was 883, and 1946 saw another 1,828 men settled, with another 200 working for wages \vith the promise of titles. At the end of June, 1947, a further. 594 men had been placed on farms, with another 316 working on land development blocks, with titles promised. By the end of 1949 the total would be at least 6,600 — about 5,000 on single-unit farms and at least 1,600 on Crown sub-divisions.

“It is particularly pleasing to note that in spite of the great difficulties preventing a faster rate of settlement, very few ex-servicemen graded ‘A’, that is, fully qualified to manage their own farms, have dropped out of the running. Though some of the remainder were at present in non-farming employment, the great majority of those eligble for farm assistance were still determined to make a go of it as we can assist them, and I may say that is the type of New Zealander we want on the land,” said Mr Skinner, “Many difficulties have been overcome during the past year and there had been a steady improvement in the rate of settlement, but two main problems are still there—housing on farms and lack of fencing wire. The Government had been doing all it could solve thse problems and they are being gradually overcome.” “Meanwhile, after repeated representations by the Returned Services Association and some of the ex-ser-vicemen, themselves, the- Rehabilitation Board has decided to allot some sections without permanent housing, on a few selected blocks where temporary accommodation can be obtained; and allow the settlers themselves to arrange for the erection of their own homes with rehabliitation finance,” said Mr Skinner, adding that it would be a departure from the usual practice of having such houses built under departmental arrangement. It was felt that in some cases the ex-servicemen themselves, by their own personal contacts, would be more successful in prevailing upon builders to carry out the necessary work, than would State Departments. This, in turn, would release staff and plant to other blocks with a resultant speeding up of land settlement generally. If the experiment was successful it .would be extended, particularly on sheep-farming properties. The possibility of prefabricating houses for sections on land settlement sub-divisions was also being thoroughly investigated. “The Rehabilitation Board wants to encourage as many intending vendors as possible of all kinds of farms to sell to servicemen,” said the Minister, “and with this in mind, I should like to repeat an assurance I have given many times in the last year or two, namely, that I will not operate Section 51 of the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Act, for compulsory acquisition, where a single unit property is offered for sale to an ex-servicemen. If the price fixed by the Land Sales Committee is not acceptable to a vendor selling to an ex-servicemen, he may withdraw the property from sale. The Beard was still adhering to the policy of acquiring properties for serviceman settlement only when they were in a reasonably improved state, stated Mr. Skinner. As the supply of materials and plant improved, the Board felt that in certain districts properties might be acquired which at present seemed likely to take too long to develop to be of any real use for rehabilitation. Any spectatular speeding up of land acquisition seemed impossible under existing conditions, but every effort would be made to obtain suitable land for rehabilitation purposes. There had been no difficulty in obtaining sufficient supplies of milking

plant and farm implements, but tractors were still in short supply. This latter difficulty was being largely solved by the operations of agricultural contractors. Another special fertiliser allocation was expected this year, and the position would soon be back to pre-war standards, while the provision of good livestock presented few. problems. The New Zealand Dairy Board had agreed to continue the scheme whereby well-breed calves were purchased by the Lands Department and made available later to ex-servicemen. Under this scheme over 5,000 calves have been purchased for the stocking of dairy farms for ex-servicemen. ; “North Auckland, Hawkes Ray and Wellington are considered to present the greatest settlement problems at present,” said the Minister, “but taken over all there has been a marked improvement.”