FARMING AFFAIRS

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 October 1947, Page 8

FARMING AFFAIRS

(This column is supplied weekly by Federated Farmers of New Zealand. The information given is official, but, any views expressed are those of the Federation and are not necessarily those of this newspaper). REHABILITATION PROBLEMS Income received from the investment of money received from the sale of land to returned servicemen will .not be treated wholly as earned income. A request to that, effect was made to the Government by the Dominion Conference of Federated Farmers, but the Minister of Rehabilitation has replied that while the Government had given the question much consideration it could not see its way to go further than the amendment to the taxation laws provided for in the year’s Land and Income Tax Bill. That amendment, Mr. Skinner said, provided a worth-while concession in the direction indicated. At the annual conference, the Federation also asked that the immediate settlement of blocks of land, even in. an unimproved or partly improved state, and with the subsequent development by the settler assisted, if necessary, by the State should be undertaken. The Government, however, does not agree with that proposal. The Minister in his reply last week, said that the Government considers it entirely wrong that ex-servicemen, many with family responsibilities, should be asked to carve for themselves an existence from unimproved land. The men desei’ved something better and the Government was endeavouring to provide that "something” in the way of sections with minimum improvements complete. By "minimum improvements,” Mr. Skinner said he meant those amenities necGGsary to ensure that the exservicemen would have a reasonable standard of living from the outset. Except where more or less fully improved properties were purchased and immediately sub-divided, scope was always left for the men greatly to improve their holdings by their own efforts and if necessary with the help of State finance. LAND SUB-DIVISION In considering sub - divisional schemes for the settlement of returned servicemen, the Land Settlement Board paid attention to the topography of the country and consulted Farming sub-committees to ensure that the best sub-division was obtained. That information has been received by Federated Farmers from the Minister of Rehabilitation in reply to the Conference resolution that, in the sub-division of land, greater consideration should be given to topographical conditions than to the money value. The Minister also wrote that rehabilitation loan limits; associated with the productive or potential productive capacity, had always to be the guiding principle, but a subdivision was never spoiled simply to provide Jfor the value of all the units being with the Rehabilitation Board’s loan limits. Many of the schemes already approved had included "overscale” units resulting from decisions to follow natural boundaries to obtain the best sub-division and ensure the best use of the land. PEAS FOR BRITAIN

The British Ministiy of Food has advised the New Zealand Government that while it is rather too early to give a firm indication of its requirements of blue peas from New Zealand next year, it considers it should be able to take at least 5,000 tons, more than New Zealand has exported in any one season over the last ten years. That information has just been received by Federated Farmers from the Department of Agriculture. The British Government has also suggested that the maximum of £34 per ton agreed on for the present season, appeared to be reasonable but at the moment it would prefer not to name a definite figure for the 1948 crop. The United Kingdom has also said that on current indications it can probably absorb 6,000 tons of maple peas from New Zealand in 1948.. Its Government is hoping for a reduction of at least £3 per ton on the present price of £2B for No. 1 peas. No finality has, however, been reached regarding that adjustment in price.