asked the Minister for Lands why landless men who have been taking substantial amounts of land on the 11 months' system over an extended period are not considered favourably for allotments of land on estates being divided in their areas.
Written Answers. - Land Allotment.
192.
The primary aim of land settlement policy is to enlarge and improve the many thousands of existing holdings which are too small and too poor to provide a tolerable standard of living for their owners. The Land Commission find it impossible—especially in those areas where the problem is most acute—to secure enough land to reach this primary objective; and, therefore, the general situation is that they cannot afford to set aside land for the creation of new farms for people such as the Deputy has in mind.
But landless applicants—while in general they must remain low in priority—are not excluded from consideration: their claims are always carefully considered in the disposal of lands which are not required for the structural reform of uneconomic holdings or other priority commitments.
As a general comment it is but realistic to ensure that those already on the land in an uneconomic way are first catered for before the introduction of any new group.