Labour Land Tenure Policy Causes Concern

Wanganui Chronicle, 28 June 1948, Page 4

Labour Land Tenure Policy Causes Concern

(P.A.) Wellington, June 25. Apprehension caused by the land tenure policy of the present Government was responsible for lack of development in several farming areas, said the president of the Royal Agricultural Society, Mr. B. E. K. Filler, in his address to the annual confer s ence. The policy of taking over highly improved land, together with the arbitrary designation of economic units, had been viewed with concern. It was felt that the present situation constituted a threat to stud farms. Returned soldiers now being settled on highly improved land would probably have a greater incentive to work if placed on only partly improved areas, where they would seek equity with their neighbours. "I shall be very glad if the price structure of tills country is main'ained without a break for five years,” >id the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. E. J. Fawcett, replying to questions at a meeting of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Other subjects dealt with by MrFawcett included the allocation of fertiliser for the coming year. Distribution would be on the basis of the present ration, he said. Since, although more phosphate was available, facilities in the Dominion for absorbing the full amount were inadequate, producers had asked for a continuation of the rationing systemThe first cantilever at Nauru would be given a trial within a month, and should it prove successful supplies would be further supplemented,” he added.