GREATER PRODUCTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 102, 2 May 1930, Page 10

GREATER PRODUCTION.

NORTH AUCKLAND'S FUTURE. MINISTER MUCH IMPRESSED. APPRECIATIVE SETTLERS. (By Telegraph.—Special to " !?tar.") RUSSELL, this day. Some hard travelling has been done 'by the Minister of Lands and his party in the Far Northland during the last two days, and Mr. Forbe3 hag seen a great deal of land which he declares is suitable for opening up fn r settlement. The Minister is impressed with the possibilities of greater production, and as the result of his visit it is anticipated that some large areas of Crown lands in the North will be thrown open for settlement. Already some thousands of acres are being prepared for ballot, and arrangements are being made to have other large blocks surveyed. On his way from Kaitaia to Russell yesterday. Mr. Forbes met several deputation's, which sincerely thanked him for what ne was doing "in the North in the way of opening up land. At Mangonui, Mr. R. T. Wrathall, who presided over a gathering of settlers, welcomed the Minister. Mr. Forbes' appointment, he said, was most pleasing to the Liberals in the North. The Minister, in replying, said that lately there had been quite an awakening regarding what could ! be done with poorer lands. He was glad to hear that there was such a demand for land, especially north of Whangarei. Again, at Kaeo, the Minister was told that if certain blocks of land in Whangaroa County were opened no difficulty would be experienced in getting settlers. One speaker said, men were starving for land. The Minister made a sympathetic reply and promised that the Government would do all that was possible in assisting the opening up of land.