In NG Highlands

New Lands Policy Resented In NG Highlands

From a Special Correspondent COMPLAINTS by the Highland Farmers’ and Settlers’ Associa tion (which has a reputation for restraint and moderation) have produced some action in relation to land settlement: but we here do not think it is the right kind of action.

Lands’ Secretary Maclnnis and a team of surveyors, agriculturalists and others have been in the High lands conducting a drive, under the Hasluck plan of providing land for settlers. The Western Waghi Valley (Western Highlands) was the target of their operations, and reports from Minj indicate that several blocks have been purchased from the natives by the Administration. The intention is to offer these for application at an early date.

However, as many intending settlers have been virtually squat ting in this particular area because the new policy prevented their applications from being dealt with, it is believed here that the real object of this sudden activity was to bring a token survey to this area, get the prospective settlers (some of whom have been waiting around for a year) out of the Administration’s hair, and save the Minister’s face.

To provide them with blocks with the Ministers’ approval, they had to be included in a relatively large “unit” scheme.

It is noted that persons already settled in the Highlands who wish to increase their small holdings, and new arrivals who have risked capital to come here and wait have been told that no further purchases of land to satisfy a particular person will be entertained.

If a man finds suitable land which the natives are prepared to sell to him, he is wasting his time. The new scheme is to offer all areas “for application” after first doing soil surveys and getting Minister Hasluck’s permission to purchase each separate block. The man who has waited for a particular block, may miss out altogether, and mean while the Administration has taken upon itself to tell would-be settlers what they will be able to grow. If a man wants to raise fowls on land that the Administration says is for coffee, then it seems he has no chance of getting the block.

The whole scheme may be suit able for large tracts of predictable country; but here in the Highlands, particularly the Eastern Highlands, we think it is the end of progress.

No one can afford to go on waiting for their lucky number to turn up.

Some who have staked everything they have on their hope of getting land will now have to take their chances with those who have not risked a penny.

There is no enthusiasm for t new plan amongst the lai conscious natives, either. They w to know who their white neighbo are going to be. The Hasluck sche deprives them of that right. 11 like a ticket in a lottery, and natives are not keen to sell—exc in the outlying areas. Meanwl District Services is supposed to f land for the Lands Department offer, instead of letting intend settlers help the Government to b them.

No one knows for certain \ is responsible for the new syster or why the old system was scrap —but Minister Hasluck gets blame. ‘’Worse than Eddie Wai they call him. At least what Ec had on his mind was never doubt; and on some subjects could be very sane. Minister Has! is regarded as quite unpredicta (See also articles in this issi] Effect on Land Policy of New Stc of District Commissioners in I Guinea, page 16; and Vital Set ment Policy at Stake in ?

Guinea, page 9.)