LOOKING FOR LAND

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXX, Issue 8497, 3 August 1933, Page 2

LOOKING FOR LAND

FOR SETTLEMENT OF UNEMPLOYED

WAIHI DISTRICT VISITED

SUITABLE AREAS NOTED As the result of a preliminary insepetion by the representative of the Land Board, Mr A. H. Farrell, of Paeroa, in company with Messrs G. Hoys and T. R. C. Haszard, members of the district advisory committee, it is anticipated that a considerable area, of country about Waihi will shortly 00 taken up and converted into small ■ arms in connection, with the Government scheme for settling unemployed on the land. Attention for the moment is being devoted to the Waimata area, where a couple of blocks ■.vhich could be sub-divided into ideal dairy farms of from 40 to 60 acres, are under offer to the board, but other parts are to be inspected and the probability is that before the possibilities of the district have been exhausted the holdings to be converted to use under the scheme will run into many hundreds of acres.

FAVOURABLE AND CHEAP Referring to the inspection and the position generally in the course of a chat with a representative of the Telegraph” Mr Hoye said that there ■vas quite an extensive area of idle Crown and other lands within a few miles of the township of Waihi that -ould be brought to production very cheaply; in fact few, if any, other districts offered greater inducement for cultivation at such small cost. In the area so far investigated there were thousands of acres that could be profitably utilised, including small flats and valleys, which could be converted into dairy farms and much undulating to broken country that would prove suitable for cropping, sheep raising and grazing. In many instances the land could be so sub-divided as to permit of the settlers using it for both dairying and sheep raising, the flats and the valleys for the milking herds and the balance for sheep, thus running 12 to 15 or more cows and 150 to 200 sheep on holdings of 100 acres or less —according to quality. Experience had shown that much of the land about Waihi could be brought to profit without the use of the plough, all that was required was to burn off the fern and other growth, disc harrow, top dress and surface sow, using a good proportion of clover seed as clovers did wonderfully well in the district, and provided abundant feed for the stock pending the establishment of the permanent pasture.

TERMS SHOULD APPEAL In vieAv of the comparatively small cost to the men going on the land the Waihi district should make a strong appeal. The annual rentals in the first place would only run to a feAV pence per acre on the unimproved value and the ultimate purchasing price, should they decide to freehold their properties,, should not exceed 50 per cent, of that at which privately OAvned improved farms are changing hands, even in these times of exceptionally loav prices for butterfat and other products. And they would start off under most favourable conditions. All required from them until such time as they could make ends meet Avould be their labour. The Land Board —utilising the Unemployment Board’s funds —would do the rest, including the provision of implements and the erection of homes and essential outbuildings.