HAURAKI PLAINS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 209, 2 September 1911, Page 8

HAURAKI PLAINS.

SECOND READING OF THE BILL. COMMENT AXD TRIBUTE. (By Telegraph. Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Hauraki Plains Amendment Bill, introduced by the lion. D. Buddo, came up for its second reading in the House last evening. The settlers of the Hauraki Plains, Mr. Massey declared, had grievances, one of which was the difficulty of getting reasonable advances from the State Lending Department. Up to a few days ago the Department had regarded the drainage of the plains as an experiment, and was not disposed to advance money on the sections. He was glad to say, however, he had received a communication from the Department intimating they were going 1o treat the settlers more liberally. Mr. Massey objected to the provisions of clauses three and four of the bill, which meant that whether settlers liked it or not. without their consent, the Minister of Lands could strike a special rate to maintain the drainage operations, whilst they were already paying heavy rental.

The Hon. Mr. Buddo: "The proposal is only a temporary one." Mr. Massey contended it was unnecessarily increasing the burdens on the .settler?!. Mr. Buddo: "Do you (hink the consolidated revenue should keep the drainage going?" Mr. Massey: "T say that the Government is receiving sufficient revenue from the Hauraki Plains to keep the operations going." The Minister was trying to extract the last shilling from the>e men. I Liberal members: Oh. oh.)

Mr. Buddo: "It will come into profitable occupation more quickly than any other swamp." Mr. Massey replied the Minister did not evidently know anything about it. He had no objection to the raising of an additional €40.000. They would obtaiis a pood return.

Mr. Poland congratulated the Government upon the settlement of the swamp. He saw no necessity for clauses three and four, and did not think the settlers should be compelled to pay a special rate for the clearing of the drains while the drainage work was still going on. The member for Ohinemuri recorded his high appreciation of the work of the drainage engineer, and of the Under-Secretary of the Department. Whilst commending Government for activity displayed, the work, he admitted, might be more expensive than anticipated, but was being done thoroughly.

Mr. E. H. Taylor stated that he had received representations from the settlers that the rating proposal was inimical to the interests of the people who were settled on the. plains.

Mr. Orcenslade. in adding his tribute to the work done in redeeming this area from the wilderness, expressed the hope that the Minister would see his way clear to delete the two clauses. The work would, he was assured, stand for more prosperity and progress between the YVaika'to and the Thames than anything undertaken i.n those districts by the Government. Mr. Jennings sounded a warning note against the placing of heavy rating handicaps on settlers, many not so happily situated as those of 'the Hauraki Plains, mentioning several instances where settlers were seriously handicapped from one reason and another. Tie expressed the opinion that the old Bush and Swamp Act was one of the most beneficent measures ever placed on the Sta'tute JSook. and helped settlers to tide over many difficulties. The Hon. Mr. Biiddo explained that a careful valuation had been made of the land, and he was satisfied that settlers were not too heavily loaded in that direction, but had every chance of winning out. Mr. Massey's statement about the Government's treatment of the settlers was, in his opinion, ill-advised and ill-considered. In making it the hon. member could not have had a grip of the situation, nor was such a statement in the interests of the tattlers. To attempt to foment discontent among settlers who he was sure would win out. was. in his opinion, based on nothing more sound than the political aspect. The Government were giving the best possible opportunities and reasonable eoncessions to the settlers, tie agreed that the taking over of their obligations by the settlers should be extended to three years. In conclusion the Minister expressed his firm conviction that the plain would be one of the gardens of the Auckland province, and an immense source of future wealth. The second reading was unanimously passed.