A FAILURE?

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 94, 22 April 1933, Page 10

A FAILURE?

HIKURANGI DRAINAGE

SETTLERS' REQUEST.

COMMENT BY MR. RANSOM,

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WHANGAREI, this day.

The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Lands, received deputations at Hikurangi yesterday afternoon, when requests were preferred pertaining to the elimination of drain flooding near the mines, the postponement of the operation of the drainage rate and the acquisition of an area of land for the benefit of the unemployed. In the first instance, Mr. R. G. MacMorran, drainage engineer, _w as °. opinion that the proposed division cut would not prevent thte flooding of the mines, and the Minister said he would require some guarantee that the work would be beneficial before he could recommend that it be authorised. In regard to "the Hikurangi swamp area drainage rate, Mr. Ransom said he was disappointed with statements made that the scheme had proved a failure, and if that were so, it was the only one in New Zealand that had not been a success. His own opinion, from observation, was that it had benefited the lower-lying land. The settlers must be prepared to offer assistance in rate payment instead of throwing the burden on the whole Dominion. He promised, however, to see how long he could defer the striking of the rate. _ »• The Minister also promised to investigate the question of acquiring land with a view to providing work for a number of unemployed.