LAND SETTLEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 87, 13 April 1927, Page 10

LAND SETTLEMENT.

j TO-DAY'S BIG MEETING. DOMINION LEAGUE FORMED. TO FORMULATE A POLICY. A conference promoted by the Auckland A. and P. Association, and attended by delegates from all over New Zealand, commenced its sitting in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall this morning, Major-General Sir Andrew Russell presiding. The business before the meeting was a proposal to form a New Zealand Land Settlement and Development League, the opinion having been expressed in various quarters throughout the Dominion, that some such organisation should be inaugurated for the stimulation of land settlement and primary production. The Auckland A. and I*. Association took the initiative in the matter and, since the idea of forming the league was first mooted, a considerable amount of work has been done by the committee 1 • enable the idea oi such a league to be placed before a representative gathering of New Zea landers.

The main objects of the league, it was explained, were to urge and assist in legislation which would tend to encourage the promotion and profitable exploitation of land settlement, agriculture ■ and farming in all its pha-cs and all other industries having as their object I the increasing of national wealth . through utilisation of the soil, and also j careful examination of all proposed legislation to the same end; to strenui ou=>iy endeavour, with the co-operation jof the Press and other agencies. to 'educate public opinion to a true appreciation of the importance of increased ! production from the soil, and to cncourI age the rising generation to look to some I phase of the farming indu-trics as a ! career. 1 Mr. W. W. Massey. as president of j the Auckland A. and P. Association, j welcomed the delegate*, and said that the Auckland A. and I'. Association took all responsibility for calling the conference. He wished to introduce I Sir Andrew Russell (applause), whom he said, had come from IJawke's Bay | because he was so interested in farming j generally throughout the Dominion and , was chairman of the meeting which was held in the Town Hall during showweek. In \iew of that and seeing that j sir Andrew was present, he would be j a-ked to pre-ide at the conference. • (Applause.) Minister of Lands Explains. • v ir Andrew Kiis-cll iir-l apologised lur the unavoidable absence of the Minister o-f Lands (lion. A. 1). McLeodi. who telegraphed from the Hauraki Plains. The Minister said that just prior to his leaving Wellington he had discussed further with his colleagues the question of selecting the personnel for the board of inquiry desired by the League's committee. The difficulty of arriving at finality in the matter however, was enhanced by the fact that it was not known what particular phases of the rural problem it was desired to have investigated. The committee should consist largely, if not entirely, of economists and tho<e aide to sift evidence and to come to sound conclusions. The Minister said that lie and his colleagues were strongly of the opinion that a peripatetic commission, however carefully selected, would add very little to the information already recorded, and in addition would lie very cost Iv. In conclusion Mr. McTx-od said: '• No doubt the conference will fully consider these : aspects of the matter, and therefore ! shall await its conclusions before again submitting it to Cabinet." 1

i Chairman's Opening Remarks. The c.iairman touched on the woik j those responsible for bringing Unoriginal proposals to fruition, and congratulated them 011 their effoiis. It wa- ! hoped to bring the League into noti\. I and actual being to-aay. Six monthago the fii-t meeting was held, and the j faimcis' po-ition had not improved. The leagues asm was to endeavour to remove all existing obstacles of the farmers. Referring to the large amount of unoccupied lands in the Auckland province, the speaker said he ih-.night i that it was fitting that the N, u Zealand i I.and and Development League -lnmld be inaugurated in Auckland. l'.nt hwould point out That it was a IVm-iii.-ii body. If the league could lie r::'de a live organisation, then support throughout Xeiv Zealand would be assured. He believed that spirit Wullld perinea'e X k 'v. Zealand, lie advised them to lir-t think and t hen ac'. 1 'fo Irill lt l rt lion. A. 1). M, T.ood's remarks 011 1 h" Hauraki Plains when he wa 111 ark-1 >ht Hi' i .I,ls shrd'l taoin rdl'e. marks on the ll.i-traki Rlani< vh. 11 1: • was reported as iii\ijw 11i,. Government wr 11 Id nor be stampeded. Sir Andrew Kusse]] s;iid he wished io assure the Hon. Minister that the League was no* io help the Government and ten stampede it. I Applause.) The chairman then moved the following resolution That th : s meeting recognising ihe seriousness cf the T.and t Vnient problem, is of t'ie opinion that the time has arrived for the stimulation of land s -t:ler.vnt and nri-v ir\ o.lueticn." The resolution was carried unanimously. Appointment of Officials. Prior to the appointment of officials! a resolution, moved by Mr. W. W. | Massey. "That this meeting rc~olves to! form a I. ague, to be called Xew Zealand 1 Land Settlement and Development j League, was carried unanimouslv. '

I lie following committee was appointed to adopt a constitution and lrame the necessary rules to be submitted to a general meeting to be held ill duly liext .-—Messrs. \. M. Bislev I Hamilton 1. Goo. Finn ( Auckland 1. \Y. MeArthur 1 Auckland 1. A. A. Loss (To I \a >iw ha ta ■. \\ . \\ . Ma 1 la noere •. dair.es Boddie (Te Kuitii.W. d. Broadfoot ITo K»t it"l >. E. E. \"ai'e tEeporoai. ' *00. K. Htilehi 11 -on (Auckland 1, Edwin Harding (Devonport 1. A. \Y. l'erkins (Auckland 1. Fred. Hellabv (Auckland W. J. Holdsworth (Auckland 1. C. ('. Monro (Clevcdon 1, Robt. Burin (Auckland 1. Albert Spencer (Auckland 1. 11. S. Ea-tgate (Auckland'. Mr. M. MeArthur (Auckland) was appointed convener and Mr. Geo. Finn' (Auckland > treasurer. Land Settlement. Sir Andrew Russell was unanimously elected president. It was decided that the subscription for ordinary members be Firms. £1 1 Life members £lf»il spread over five years iij- jn cum of £ I(•< 1 ; Foundation member-. £2"i s,v,»ad over lav yea r-. I'iie committee was glv.-u t,, appoint an organise.- j,. _ u .. nititierat ion.