DETERIORATED LANDS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19195, 29 December 1927, Page 6

DETERIORATED LANDS.

EFFECT OF REVALUATIONS J ASSISTANCE TO COUNTIES ? [THE PEHSS 8p«ci»l S«tlc«.] AUCKLAND. December 28. Sweeping revaluations of deteriorated lands havo been mado by the Government, and to-day many county councils are at a loss to see their way to make ends meet out of revenue. "I think I can say that the position has reached a very acute stage," said the Minister for Lauds (Mr McLood) when interviewed to-day. "The revenue derived from rates on the new valuations is insullicient to keep the counties going. In some cases valuations have been reduced from 26s and 30s an acre to as little ns os per acre, and local bodies are as a consequence faced Willi the very difficult problem of maintaining roads and other public, facilities out of a very much smaller annual income. Tlieso revaluations had to be made and lower values were thoroughly justified in every case, but a new and very difficult phase of tho deteriorated lands problem is now presented. "Without doubt it is a matter tor very close investigation. It will have to l>e gone into by the Minister for Public Works, the Minister for Finance, the Prime Minister, and myself. It would appear that the counties will have to be given some assistance if the necessary works and maintenance are to be carried on. It may be that n sum of money will have to be taken from the Consolidated Fund for this purpose. At the moment T can see no other way out." The revaluations were proceeding steadily, said Mr McLeod, and it was hoped to get through everything earlv in the New Year.

MINISTER INVESTIGATING. (PSBSS ASSOCIATION TISLKOHAM.) AUCKLAND, December 28. "We have to face the fact that thero may be a fairly big overflow of unemployed next winter. Therefore, any place that would absorb a number of men would be valuable," said the Hon. Mr McLeod to-day. With the Hon. Mr Hawken and possibly Mr Coates, he was going north to ascertain the possibility of bringing a portion of the gumlands of the Far North into productivity. Ho mentioned the Kerikeri block of twenty thousand acres, the possibilities of which had never been properly examined and also a similar block near Taupo.