NGAROMA SETTLERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 89, 16 April 1927, Page 14

NGAROMA SETTLERS.

MEET THE MINISTER. MUST MEET OBLIGATIONS. PLEA FOR RELIEF. A very representative deputation of Ngaroma settlers met the Hon. A. D. MeLeod, Minister of Lands, at Franktnn I Junction on Thursday evening in connection with their position on the bush sick area in the Wharcpuhunga block. Mr. I). S. Reid, M.P. for Waikato. introduced the deputation. There was a good deal of «ood natured badinage between the official party and members of the deputation on the deputation's personal condition compared with that shown in the Auckland "Star"' cartoon on Wednesday evening. Mr. W. Burron sairt that the position since meeting the Minister in Te Awamutu had grown worse, and the claim was on that plea. He called the Minister's attention to the following facts: —In 1808 it was known to the Department that the selections were in the bush sick area. In spite of that the settlers wer put on them in 1912. In 1914 the settlers wrote to the Department and received a non-committal reply, but in 1915 a year's rent rebate was granted them. In 191G a number of the settlers left to take part in the Great War, which, of course, made the burden heavy on those remaining; when in 1919 the soldiers returned, in 1925 when the Minister was unable to get out to Ngaroma the settlers met the Min ister in Te Awamutu, and it was the Minister's own suggestion to take the settlers out and put them on another block. Now, added Mr. Burron, the Department threatened to proceed against the settlers. "Which Department,"' interjected the Minister. "The State Advances," replied Mr. Burron, who went on to say the position had now become untenable, and they asked the Department to wipe off the whole of the liabilities. If the settlers walked off, then the liabilities were wiped off in any event. "Not the personal covenant,"' said the Minister. Sympathy not Enough. Mr. Burron agreed that was so, but at the same time they had been put on the bush sick country by the Government, who should only put people on land that was fit for settlement. Not one of the original forty-two settlers have made good, which was quie enough evidence that the land was no good. "We want something more than expressions of sympathy from you," concluded Mr. Burron. Mr. Allen, of the Farmers' Union, also spoko in sympathy with the objects of the deputation. The Minister, in reply, said he was not prepared to contradict any of their statements, but he would quote from a letter from the Minister of Finance himself, under date of March 22, 1927. The letter stated that owing to pressure of work, the Department's Inspecting Valuer had up to the present time not been able to visit this district. It had been arranged that he should do so within the next week or so. The uperintendent stated that Mr. Tomlin, secretary of the Ngaroma Settlers' Committee, must be under some misapprehension when he said that the object of the inspector's visit was for the purpose of making a valuation of the holdings with a view of considering the question of rearranging the various settlers' loans. The Department had not at any time indicated in any manner whatever that such action had even ever been contemplated. The Inspecting Valuer's visit was for the purpose of inspecting and reporting on each of the Department's securities, and of obtaining information which would assist the State Advances Board in arriving at a decision as to what course of action should be taken in order to protect as far as possible the Department's interest as first mortgagee if occasion should arise, and not with the view of writing off any of the loans or even '■ any part thereof, as had been suggested I by Mr. Tomlin. No Undue Pressure. The Superintendent stated that some time back he issued instructions tint mortgagors whose properties were in the bush sick area and who were unable to meet their instalments, were to receive special consideration, and that no undue pressure would be brought to bear upon them. All that was required of the mortgagor was that he should place his position before the Superintendent, so that he might receive due consideration, and if the circumstances justified it, every effort would be made to assist him as far as possible by granting such an extension of time as would be deemed sufficient to enable hiin to overcome his difficulties. The Hon. McLeod went on to say that no one could be relieved from his personal liability to the State Advances Office, that office was bound by law. But they must remember they were not the only ones. He could give the names of two or three hundred settlers in the same position and even worse, and it must be remembered that knowing it was bush sick country they went on it. * The Lands Department had already granted the following concessions: — Soldiers: Rental'value reductions. £8540 5/6; rent remitted, £2292 15/6; instalment mortgage reductions, £63.47 13/9; interest remitted. £1004 14/fl; interest postponed. £315 3/fi; current account reductions. £3616 8/3: interest remitted. £2839 12/4: under Deteriorated Lands Act rental value reductions, £190 4/. Civilians: Rental values reduced, £10.230; rent remitted. £1192 16/10; grand total, £38.336 14/2. He would personally do all he could, but only to-day on the Hauraki Plains he had received the same request, viz.. to be removed to other land. Why to do that he would have to borrow two* millions. Mr Burron: Well wouldn't it be better to do that and make them revenue producers from a national point of view ? Mr. W. Carter: If I go out now T will go out destitute, and join the ranks of the unemployed. Limited Powers. The Minister: The Audit Department would not allow me to clear you if yon have any assets. Also there is no proof of tlie statement in the Press that the Government knew it was a sick country: that is only an interviewer's statement. There is too much of that kind of thing decrying the land by the Press of the country, and this is largely responsibh for frightening people. T tried to prevent you men meeting me here to-night, unti 1 von have dealt with the State Advance? Department. That is free from political control. Gold help the Department if bv

this Government or any other Government it came under political control. He would look into the matter a<»ain on arrival in Wellington, but be was sorry he could not offer them any more at present.

Mr. I\. M. Graham. Commissioner of Crown Lands, said the Minister of Lands had sanctioned every recommendation made to him with regard to Ngaroma.

Mr. Burron said the settlers had no means of livelihood for the winter and asked if the Minister could find them work.

Mr. McLeoil said he cnnld hardly believe conditions were as bad as had been represented. He wished Mr. Allen could inspect the settlement himself. The speaker would he surprised if ho would find things as the Farmers' Union organiser had represented.

Mr. Burren said the settlers appreciated the difficulty experienced by thfl Minister, but said they had been unable to approach the Superintendent of State Advances and had no alternative but to see the Minister.