FOR UNEMPLOYED

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19634, 22 July 1935, Page 8

FOR UNEMPLOYED

Society’s Valuable Assets.

WAIKATO SOCIETY’S PLANS

EXTENSION OF BCHEME.

TRAINING OF UNEMPLOYED.

“The scheme which Is being pursued In the Waikato Is now, I believe, assured of success. We have been through precarious times but we can see daylight ahead and I am led to the opinion that the project will extend to an enterprise on a national basis,” declared Mr D. V. Bryant, founder and chairman of directors of the Waikato Land ’Settlement Society, addressing the Hamilton Rotary Club to-day.

Air Bryant paid a warm 'tribute to the work performed by his co-direc-tors and expressed the opinion that the society would never have come into existence had it not been for the valuable work and organisation of 'the honorary secretary and treasurer, Mr H. Valder. The average man was little interested, perhaps, in land development.but to those who loved the land it was a most fascinating work. He believed that the Waikato Society had paved the way. for similar schemes in other districts of the Dominion. Mr Bryant said that at a recent meeting of the society’s directors a proposal had been considered whereby the settlement scheme could he extended so that the society might act as a medium between those who had their labour to sell and those who wished to buy it. A letter had been addressed to (he Minister of Employment suggesting that unemployed men.could be tried out and trained on the society’s settlements and if they proved satisfactory they could be recommended for farm positions. The directors would continue in touch with the men, assisting them and strengthening any weaknesses that might develop either in their work or compatabillty. The Unemployment Board would be required to pay the men’s wages during the time they were engaged on the farms tout there would he no real loss to the Government as the men concerned were already receiving pay in the towns.

Psychological Aspect Important,

The psychological aspect of the scheme was stressed by Mr Bryant. Any man was helped toy knowing that someone took an interest in him. There was enough good in every man -lo make him a success and if efforts were concentrated upon this spark instead of upon his failings much good would result.

Mr Bryant recalled that a scheme on almost identical lines as the society’s programme, had been commenced in England. The New Zealand Government was doing good work with its small farms project but he expressed the opinion that the responsibility lay with the individual men and women who could afford to take part in it.

A total of £10,592 had been spent in land for the society while horses, harness and plant had involved an expenditure of £3410. Wages of which a proportion had been found by the Unemployment Board, had absorbed £6439 and buildings £6127. On the 6000 acres of land owned by the society 32 homesteads were erected in addition to 12 three-roomed hutments. Twelve milking sheds had been built and the timber for the balance had been purchased. The bank overdrafts owned by the society amounted to £7282 but considerable improvements had been effected to the properties and it was anticipated, establishing 32 settlers next winter.

It was heartening to know that If sheep and cattle stocked on the property alone were sold at current rates the total liability would be wiped off. There was no need to be apprehenslye of the future.

“ Our one hope 1s that this scheme may yield something which may better the unhappy lot of our unemployed,’’ concluded Mr Bryant. “ There is no real need to fear for the future as it appears to the directors that brighter days are ahead. We have passed through difficult times but the position now shows definite improvement.”