LAND PRODUCTION

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 6181, 7 April 1948, Page 2

LAND PRODUCTION

INCREASE AIMED AT

FEDERATED FARMERS’ PLAN

Aimed at increasing land production and an increased rural population, a thirteen-point programme formed by Federated Farmers of New Zealand was approved by a recent meeting of the full provincial executive of the North Taranaki Federation. The nrogramme, altered where necessary after discussion by all pro* vincial executives, will become the policy of the Dominion organisation.

The urgent necessity for a plan was emphasised by the president of the Federation, Mr L. D. Hickford. He urged the institution of a civilian scheme of the type already used by the Rehabilitation Department for the settlement of ex-servicemen.

“ The only real income this country has is the income that comes from the land,” stated Mr Hickford. “In saying this I am not decrying the work the townspeople do. Unless we get the goods from the land and keep up the supply it is going to be necessary to have a complete revision of the system of taxation of this country and its social services, too. “Some of us have been a little concerned that we are not attracting to the land the type of young man that we-should do,” he continued. “The very types we want don’t seem to be attracted to it.” Lack of opportunity Mr Hickford considered was the major obstacle. The best type of young men were those of good education and ability. Yet these men, seeing no opportunity of securing land,, were turning to a trade where they considered a future lay. Mr Hickford advocated the establishment of a training and settlement scheme based on the rehabilitation programme already in operation. The first point of the plan called for'a preliminary investigation of the potentialities of every district. This would be done by practical local farmers. Next, it asked for an extension of afforestation in areas not capable of economic farming.

The plan devoted particular attention to the encouragement of suitable settlers to take up land at present producing little or nothing. It called for the provision of roads and electric power, reduction in the cost of materials for development and general farming, relief from excessive taxation and rating, assistance in housing, and the provision of finance on favourable terms,. preferably in-terest-free for an initial period. Members of the executive were definite in their support of the methods the plan suggested. Without roads, power, and general amenities, they considered, settlers would not remain in the back country; nor could new settlers accept full financial responsibility for , roads which might be built to serve them.

“No greater loading should be placed on this land for roads than the land can take,” Mr Hickford said. The expense involved in providing amenities for new settlers should be a State responsibility. To provide the land necessary for the success of the programme, the plan suggested the sub-division of unduly large holdings by voluntary sale and purchase. It called for a readjustment of the taxation methods “ which militate against private otferings of land.” It asked also for the removal of the tax penalty on unearned income to encourage elderly farmers to sell and live on the invested proceeds. . # • A second suggestion, the provision of attractive terms for the re-invest-ment in Government stock, saw more debate.

“ We want to be careful,” said Mr W. T. Vaughan, Federation organiser. “ I think we’re asking for a lot. On one hand we’re asking for interest free loans and on the other we’re asking for a higher rate of interest.” The executive decided that this point of the programme called for

the compulsory acquisition of land for closer settlement. It sought this when it was considered necessary by a committee, where it was being neglected or badly farmed, where the area was too great to permit full economic utilisation, and where, from its position, it was blocking progress and development in the neighbourhood. It cautioned that existing holdings should not be disturbed where they were producing near to capacity or were maintaining stud flocks or herds.

Under heaviest fire by members wa's the provision for taking over land when it was being badly neglected or badly formed. “Eviction is a dangerous word,” stated Mr E. Maxted. He considered that the provision of such power was threatening, and the view was supported by remaining members, who voted to delete the clause. To establish settlers the programme called for generous financial aid, a system of grading to ensure that aid was given only to those deserving it, and the - v ovision of advice by specialists and local farmers on regional production problems. The executive differed from the plan on its final suggestion to aid settlers. It called for the erection of temporary dwellings on back-coun-try farms, but the meeting decided that any temporary construction would be a mistake. As a substitute the executive adopted a remit from the Inglewood sub-branch that permanent homes be constructed. To promote co-operation between Government and farmers, the programme envisaged that the Government would afford Federated. Farmers an opportunity to scrutinise and make representations on any proposed measures affecting the land. Provisions to avoid land speculation were included in the programme. To prevent it a clause asked for safeguards in all State-assisted settlements to prevent speculation in sections, whether leasehold or freehold.

Additional points of the plan were the offer of freehold purchase to State-assisted settlers, the adoption of a valuation system to ensure equitable treatment of dispossessed owners, the review of native lands to brir" them into full production, and the consolidation of existing land legislation with the elimination of anomalies.