DRIVEN OFF THE LAND

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 7 May 1928, Page 8

DRIVEN OFF THE LAND

THIRTEEN THOUSAND SETTLERS. REFUTATION BY MINISTER OF LANDS. In an address at Levin, the Minister of Lands (Hon. Mr McLeod) referred to the statement which has ■been often reiterated that in the last two years 13,000 settlers had left the lands of the Dominion. The Minister characterised the statement as libellous from the national point of view. He said “In the New Zealamd year book there is set out the number of workers, including working owners and managers, employed in farm work throughout the Dominion. Taking the last two available years, the

total number for 1925 is set down as 105,301 males, 37,441 females, total 142,742. For the year 1927 the number of males is set down, at 102, 325, the number of females 30,424, total 132,749, showing a decrease over all approximately 10,000. A closer scrutiny o£ the figures, however discloses the fact that decrease is composed of under 3,000 males and over 7.000 females. “We know that in the war years following the war, women did valient service keeping actual farm work going, but if as a result of improved machinery and methods adopted in recent years, women have been relieved of the more arduous farm work, the country should be congratulated rather than criticised. It is upon figures such as these that reckless statements are made, as for in. stance that of 13,000 settlers having left the land in two years. There are no statistics available from anv

source showing the movement of those occupying the 85,000 rural holdings in the Dominion.” Continuing the Minister said that he was well aware that many had been forced oil farms during recent years, but gross exaggeration only increased the difficulty of o' Mning finance for those whose >sition