"NO CLASS LAND."

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17937, 4 December 1923, Page 7

"NO CLASS LAND."

PATETONGA SETTLEMENT.

(ttsciix. to "tn rassc.")

AUCKLAND, December 3,

Trials arid hardships of life on the less fertile parts of the Hauraki Plains were expressed by settlors to the Hon. W. Nosworthy and the Hon, K. F. Bollard at various places on their tour across the Plains, On Saturday about 50 settlers met the Ministers at Patetocga, where several resolutiofls previously passed by the local Settlers and Ratepayers' Association were submitted. The settlers considered that the combined fates levied by the Lands Department and Hauraki Plains County Council constituted a severe burden, and the Ministers' assistance sought in an effort to obtain a measure of relief. The total rate was 4.76 d in the £l, That was, it was urged, a very heavy rate on lands which' bad not by any means reached their Hghest state of production. That a general reduction of the unimproved valuations for rating purposes throughout the riding was imperative was the effect of another resolution.

One farmer said there was a tremendous quantity of peat land at Patetonga, and this land waa highly valued. From certain farms, however, they were not getting one-tenth the result, and many farms were not producing more than rates and Some settlers were shifting and others were losing heart. Tiio desirability of the Lands Department again assuming control of the roads in the drainage area until they were formed and metalled wag also ur/td. A settler said the difficulties yore greater at Patetonga than at any other portion of the Plains. "If the policy of not metalling the roads is persisted in," he continued, "you are condemning our wives and children to possibly twenty years' hard toil. Wo have to stop here because we can't get out. Wi) can't bring our lands into profitable bearing until they are properly drained, no matter how we try." . So far as the soldier settlement noar Patetonga was concerned, it was stated that the proposed valuation did nor apply, as the block could not be revalued, aa it was "no class land." Tfca men were working, but ihey were prepared to go off the land in a solid body unless something was dfne. Two had already vacated their sections. The quality of the land w:is the wholo trouble, as it was no good at all. It was worth nothing. The Hon. W. Noswonhy agreed that if they were in such a bad position it would be better to put th®**! f® freeh land.