LAND DEVELOPMET.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17786, 10 August 1929, Page 8

LAND DEVELOPMET.

THE MINISTER’S PLANS. PROPOSED LOAN OF £6,000,000. NEW BOARD; LOCAL COMMITTEES. "In the proposed land legislation provision will be made for the constitution of a Land Development Board and for local advisory committees,” stated the Minister of Lands, Hon. G. W. Forbes, In a letter received at a meeting of the Land Settlement and Development League in Auckland yesterday. It will be remembered that when the Minister was in Hamilton in May the Hamilton executive of the league suggested that local advisory bodies could give valuable assistance to the Department in its land-settle-ment schemes, as the Efficiency Boards and Repatriation Board had done. Yesterday’s meeting considered the announcement from the Minister most encouraging. Gratification was also expressed at the Government’s decision to find £5,000,000 for the assistance of settlers who are qualified but have insufficient means to start on their own account. In this connection a report presented to the meeting stated:— “So far as we are concerned we have a reservation that sufficient prominence is not being given to the necessity for priority to be applied to the making productive of lands at present producing nothing. "It is suggested for consideration that another point to be taken up by the Jeague is the desirability, so far as possible, to utilise the financial resources of the State to settle new men on the land and to bring into production country at present idle, rather than the taking up of mortgages at present held by private lending institutions on developed farms.

Advances for Homes and Farms. "The importance of this matter will be noticed from a statement made by the Prime Minister in the House on the 7th instant, whefT he stated that approximately 60 or 70 per cent, of loans granted by the State Advances Office for rural purposes were for tho purpose of repayment of loans. Further than this, In the statement recently made on the money advanced by this Department it was found that fully 30 per cent, had been utilised for the provision of homes. “These two statements, taken together, mean that practically 75 per cent, of the money advanced by the State Advances Office does not increase the production of the country. If it is desirable that the State find money for homes, a conservative policy should be followed, so that money may not be expended In making provision merely for a home in the city, when the equivalent sum would provide the same individual with a business and a home, in the shape of a farm, under the league's scheme."

Suggestions. The following suggestions are submitted for consideration: — “ (1) That the Government be strongly urged to use the financial resources of the State primarily to increase the production from the soil, and that preference be given to settling new men on the land, to bring into production country which is at present producing nothing. “(2) That advances from the State Advances Office should, in cases where it is considered desirable to renew or to grant accommodation to take up expiring mortgages, be subject to the strictest investigations, and that the amount required will be utilised expressly for production purposes, i.e., that no such advances be renewed or granted where the borrower has more land than he can reasonably utilise 'himself. “(3) That In cases where financial assistance is given to establish new settlers, it should be carried to a point where the holder, if he works, should be able to meet his obligations and carry out progressive improvements out of revenue."

The meeting decided on the resolution of the chairman and seconded by Mr Donaldson, that the urgency of the need be pointed out to the Government, In that there are large numbers of qualified men at the present moment who would make good under any wise scheme, and that the setting up of a Dominion Board with local advisory committees is a step which should not be delayed. It was resolved to write to the Minister of Lands conveying so far as possible the league’s views and congratulating him upon the announcement made.