VILLAGE SETTLEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 16, 20 January 1931, Page 9

VILLAGE SETTLEMENT.

AUCKLAND PROPOSAL

MR. M. J. SAVAGE'S ADVOCACY

REPLY FROM HON. E. A. RANSOM.

A reply was received by Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P. for Auckland West, this morning, to the representations he has made to the Government concerning the establishment of village settlements.

Following the unemployed meeting in the Trades Hall yesterday, Mr. Savage forwarded the following telegram to the acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. E. A. Eansom:—"l attended a large meeting of the unemployed this morning. The meeting was well conducted in every respect,.■: and; consisted mainly of men fitted for any work. I was authorised by those present to wire you suggesting that the Unemployed Workers' Association of' Auckland should volunteer to supply f)00 or indre picked men, consisting of motor drivers, labourers, carpenters and other skilled tradesmen, for the. purpose of establishing a vjllaj/i settlement that would enable men and their families who wished to do so to make their homes upon the land." Mr. Savage gave the details of the scheme as already published in the "Star," and added: "It was pointed out at the meeting that section 220 of the 1924 Land Act and other existing legislation gave all the power necassary. The men present at the meeting are a fine type, and their representations should be favourably considered."

In reply, Mr. Ransom stated that as soon as the preliminary arrangements for the development of the Galatea and other blocks had been made' suitable men from Auckland and other centres would be selected. The references to village settlement legislation fiad been noted for consideration.

Referring to yesterday's meeting of the unemployed, Mr. Savage said he had been surprised to notice the suggestion in a section of the Press that the. committee of the Unemployed Workers' Association was opposed to the proposal he had discussed. The meeting had unanimously carried, a resolution approving the scheme outlined. If members of the committee were opposed to the echeme they had been remarkably quiet in their opposition. A further motion authorising him to telegraph particulars to the Prime Minister had been" carried without a dissentient, and he had agreed to give the committee every assistance in his power to pus]] the proposal ahead. "There, were about 700 men at the meeting,' , Mr. Savage added, "and I can say that during the greater part of a life time of political campaigning I have never had a better reception." .