FARM TITLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 22, 27 January 1937, Page 8

FARM TITLES.

TIME NOT YET RIPE. MINISTER MEETS SETTLERS. DEVELOPMENT rORK FIRST. (By Telegraph.— Special Reporter.) KOHUKom*. this day. When the Minister of Lands, the Ilou. K. I.a.'igstone. visited the small farm area- close to Broad wood to-day he was met by "roups of settlers, who discussed the problems of the present and future. The men wanted to know when they were to receive their titles, hut after a di.Miissiou it was shown that the land was not yet. sufficiently developed to have valuations made and the price determined. On one block the settlers asked for the leases in two years ami a guaranteed income of £3 a week, equal to that of agricultural workers. Captain 11. M. Bushwortli, M.P.. con tended that the men received less than labourers' wages and were in reality Government employees.

The Minister said that if the land was not paying the titires would not bring any money to the settlers. A title would not feed anybody. It was income tha'. was needed. If the men could not get an income off the land it would be better for them to finish up. J'hey would, however, have to lie found work somewhere else.

Alter a long discussion the Minister promised the settlers that in the meantime he would provide more manure ami would help the men by sustenance out of the third share of the milk cheques taken by the Government. When the hum was proved valuations could be made, and if necessary some of the binding iu the area could lie written Off when the leases were granted.