NGAROMA GRIEVANCES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 39, 16 February 1928, Page 6

NGAROMA GRIEVANCES.

The executive of the Farmers' Union has passed unanimously a resolution demanding that "a Court of Inquiry, presided over by a Judge of the Supreme Court, be set up to investigate the allegations of the Ngaroma settlers that they yyere induced to take up the land by misrepresentation." It was asserted during the discussion that officials of the Lands Department advised men to take up land at Ngaroma, though it was well known to the Department that settlement had failed there before, and that the place was infected with bush sickness. The question raised, it will be observed, is quite distinct from the matter of the hardships and privations which • the Ngaroma settlers have Undoubtedly suffered, and for which, in our opinion, they deserve a generous measure of public sympathy and aid. The point at issue is whether the conditions at Ngaroma were misrepresented to' .the settlers, and as Government officials have to . answer this charge, a Departmental inquiry would certainly not meet the requirements of * Ca f e " have already drawn attention at engt^ 1 to t^ie grievances of the Ngaroma i-* f 6 * 8 ' BQ ch charges as these cannot be facie cM»^ ere l" that a prima made out, Sd that will Mm.,. only satisfactory course 5&U WWi. will be a

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