BIG PROTEST MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 12, 14 July 1939, Page 16

BIG PROTEST MEETING

A VIGOROUS RESOLUTION

"INTERFERENCE WITH LIVELIHOOD"

For over three hours last evening one of the largest meetings ever present in the Taita Hall, composed almost entirely..of persons interested in the recent proclamation placed by the Government over Hurt Valley land, listened while speakers presented a ease for the retention of the area by the present owners for market garden purposes.

The following motion was unanimously carried:—"That this meeting of market gardeners emphatically protests against the pro-

posal of the Government to take o\ rer our gardening land in Lower

Hutt, as their action, apart from other consideration, is positively % unwarranted, due to the availability of an abundance of suitable ' building] sites within the Wellington area. Furthermore, we warn the Government that if they persist in. their confiscatory policy and do not abandon this scheme, we are unitedly determined to resist by very available means the unjustifiable and harsh interference with our livelihood and liberty as British subjects." The motion was moved by Mr. J. Pescini. seconded by Mr. J. Weir, and carried amid prolonged cheering and acclamation.

The chair was taken by Mi:. B. V. Cooksley (Dominion president of the Commercial Growers of New Zealand), and associated with him on the platform were Mr. F. Ferretti (president of the Hutt Valley Producers' Association), Mr. L. V. Phillips (secretary), the Hon. V. Ward, M.L.C., Councillor W. Appleton (Wellington city), Mr. J. -W. Andrews" (Mayor of Jjower Hutt), Mr. S. Blackley (chairman of the Hutt County Council), Mr. H. E. Combs, M.P., Mr, H. J. McLeavey (president of the Farmers' Union, Manawatu branch), Mr. R. G. Wall, of Kuku, and Mr. J. J. Maher, of Upper Hutt. A large delegation from Kuku was present in the body of the hall, as well as officers of the City Council and some prominent Wellington citizens. Mr. Cooksley said he had been chosen as chairman because he had no axe to grind, his land not being affected by the proclamation. It was not the Taita growers alone who had interest in the matter; all the growers in New Zealand were behind the Taita men in their fight to retain their land. The Kuku men were present because they, having been threatened, knew the justice of Taita's fight for freedom. No one was present to discuss politics—.all shades of political opinion were represented in the gathering—the purpose was to discuss the value of the Hutt lands to the community and the justice of the present owners''claim to retain them. TOWN PLANNER'S REPORT. At the request of the chairman, the secretary read the report presented to the growers by Mr. J. W. Mawson, Town Planner, and the statement oii the Prime Minister as published in the "Evening Post." Mr. Mawson's.. report set out that 553 acres were affected and gave the estimated value of the annual produce as averaging £220 per acre. In some cases the land produced as much as £475 per acre. The report estimated that the Hutt Valley supplied only 36 per cent, of the vegetables to the Wellington market. The figures purporting to have been given by the brokers varied from 75 per cent, to 28 per cent. The value of the tomatoes which went outside the Wellington market was [stated to be £5000. The report corporated a statement from the Department of Agriculture emphasising the value of the Hutt land for growing salad crops and for the mildness of the climate. This, stated the re-, port, was more than counter-balanced by the high price of the land and the heavy rates. . - The Prime Minister's statement said that 125 men, representing over 500 persons, were concerned, and that these could be accommodated on 2000 acres of* land as good as the Hutt land in the Otaki-Levin district. ME. COMBS PROMISES HELP. Mr. Combs said he highly appreciated the value of the Taita land to.the city and suburbs. He had already made his position clear and saw no reason to withdraw what he had previously said. . Land in the Valley which was being used as cow land would have to give way to the march of progress in connection with the extension of the railway, but lie could not agree that it was an economic proposition to use land that was producing £300 per acre. If" the Government was going to/compensate the owners in proportion to the land production: the area was too valuable to .use for housing, especially as other land could be procured at lower prices. Not only areas in the Hutt Valley, but in many other parts round Wellington, and eminently suitable, coujd be obtained. JHe i could read a list of places, but the meeting was not interested in that. Market gardening soil was certainly not the healthiest soil on which .to build houses. He would do all he could to further the interests of the Taita men and when they were ready would lead a deputation to the Prime Minister. (Applause.) '. REPRESENTATIONS IGNORED. The chairman said that in criticising the Prime Minister's statement they were all aware that it was not prepared by the Prime Minister, who probably did not realise the strong case of the Taita owners, but by Mr. Mawson. A deputation had already placed the whole position before Mr. Mawson, but the statements had been absolutely ignored. Mr. Hewer said the firsc Proclamation had been made three years ago, but the owners concerned had not raised objections then because they thought it would never be gone on with, but now they were determined to fight t6 a finish. Every farmer in New Zealand and every person who bought vegetables was concerned in the matter. The owners had been promised that tneir representations \/ouid be considered by Mr. Mawson, L-ut the first they knew was that they were called together and the report was thrust into their hands. It was not even read Growers had been promised that they would be given land equal to the Hutt land, but he challenged Mr. Mawson to produce land of equal value for market gardens anywhere in New Zealand. They were told the land at Kuku was equal to it. if not better, but the delegation had found it was not in any way to be compared. The report said that only 36 per cent of the vegetables on the Wellington market were supplied from the Hutt. The truth was that from September to April the bulk of the vegetables came from the Hutt Valley and in February March, April, and May practically all of it came from the district. During those months the Hutt supplied the whole of the tomato supplies to Wei-

lington, ana not only to Wellington but all over New Zealand. THE KUKU LAND OFFER. What, reliance could be placed on statements made by the Agricultural Department when it compared the Kuku land to the^ Hutt land? Wisely, the delegation ,had worn gumboots at Kuku, as there were acres which could be hardly walked over. The land was hard-to drain, and. contained, over a large area, an underground stream which would prevent any crops being grown, let alone vegetables. The G.ov-» ernment had been misled by its officers. The growers were not concerned over the money they might receive for their land. They wanted to keep their lands, their • homes, and their livelihood. It was totally untrue to say, as the report, had said, that Hutt lands were deteriox*ating. He had been on. his land for 30 years, and was getting better crops than ever. The chairman said Mr. Mawson had promised Taita men a chance to discuss his draft report with him. That promise had never been kept. If the valley was going to hold 50,000 people there was all the more need to retain the gardeners to feed them. "Schoolboy economists" had been sent to the brokers' offices, the speaker . said, to check the percentages supplied "■ by Hutt growers, but they had no specific basis for their inquiry, for different questions were asked of different brokers. It would be found that the percentage was 60 per cent, and not 36 per cent., and for four months of the year 90 per cent. If the Hutt lands were taken Wellington would have to do* without tomatoes for four months, or at any rate pay heavily for them. In regard to the cost ctf transporting vegetables, Mr. Copping, who had been a Hutt grower but was now at Levin, had found that it was uneconomic to send to the Wellington market from the Otaki-Levin district. Nine-tenths of his produce went north to Palmerston North and elsewhere, and yet Government officers were now investigating Palmerston North land as a suitable place in which to place Hutt men to supply the Wellington market, Mr. McLeavey expressed his appreciation of the action of the Prime Minister in relieving the minds of the Kuku settlers in regard to their land. The Prime Minister had said that so long as he was Prime Minister their lands would not be touched. All he could say to that was "long live the Prime Minister." Mr. McLeavey then read a resolution passed by the conference of the Farmers' Union supporting the Hutt producers. PRINCIPLE AT STAKE. i A great principle was at stake, said j Mr. McLeavey. and only by determination and courage could they win through. He was proud to be present and would help in every way he could. "Don't let them take your lands and your homes, but fight to the end for their retention." (Applause.) Mr. J. J. Maher, as a farmer and producer, said he wished to join the Taita men in their protest. The Kuku men had given a splendid example to all New Zealand. One of the first principles of British justice and fairplay was being infringed. The principle of democracy needed to be upheld. Two things necessary for health were milk and vegetables. There was a growing number of politicians who were as fond of primary products as ! the devil was of holy water. The Government was interfering with the rights of citizens and it was time to call a halt. The Government should at any rate remember Mr. Chamberlain's motto and try always to do things by peaceful negotiation. NOT WILLING TO SELL. The chairman said he had been asked to correct an unfair statement made by the Hon. W. E. Parry which inferred that the Hutt men had been anxious to sell. After the proclamation was made men had been approached by Government officials to see whether they would sell, and one man, who wanted to consolidate, his homestead property, had agreed to sell a portion elsewhere in order to do this. From now on no one would agree to sell. (Applause.) » Mr. R. G. Wall, of Kuku, said he had worked and fought for a principle and thought it well worth while. Kuku land was totally unsuited for market gardening, though for dairying it was second to,none. The Prime Minister had been definitely misdirected, and it was beyond comprehension how he dropped onr Kuku land as suitable for gardens. A great principle was at stake and he was sure it could be' settled in the right way. (Applause.) WELLINGTON'S SYMPATHY. Mr. Appleton .said that as a citizen of Wellington he knew Wellington citizens were behind the Taita men. No Government had the right to ride rough-shod over the people. Wellington I was concerned because the city would ultimately extend for a 50-mile radius. There was any amount of land available without worrying the Hutt farmers. Town planning was good, but there was too much theory and | not enough practical politics in much of the planning. There was> land available at Ngaio, Khandallah, and Tawa Flat sufficient for the next twenty years. Land was available in the Silverstream area with a sub-soil better suited for housing than the Taita land. Why land which would yield £300 to £400-per acre was being taken he could . not ' imagine. The people had the power in their own hands, and if they put up a fight no Government would dare to take their land. The whole of New Zealand was) behind them in the fight. i Speaking as a member of the Harbour Board. Mr. Appleton said the proposed drain through the Valley could not be allowed to discharge into the harbour, and the mouth of the river was most unsuitable for the treatment of sewage. The trouble -was the country at present was being run by

the civil \ servants and was under V bureaucracy and not a democracy. He could show a list of 100 to 150 acres, with 500 acres more further out, *on which houses could be built. The railway had been electrified on the other line for the purpose of transporting 'people, and yet the Government was seeking to take the homes of Taita people. "TACKLED UPSIDE DOWN." Mr. Andrews said his criticism of the Government was entirely without party bias. He was concerned solely with the question of how the people were to be fed. Outlining the history of the development scheme. Mr. Andrews said that the principle of putting, a civil servant as sole town planner was a blow at democracy. The whole question had been tackled upside down, and instead of developing the secondary industries first and then housing the employees, houses were being built to be occupied by Wellington people who would have to travel each day to Wellington while, when the industries came, their employees would have to be housed at Johnsonville.and Tawa Flat. Mr. Mawson was not a practical man but an idealist and possibly a dreamer. The houses built in Lower Hutt had all been occupied by Wellington resi- • dents, and had not in any way relieved overcrowding in Lower Hutt. HOUSING PROBLEM EXAGGERATED. The housing difficulty was not nearly as intense as was being made out,-said Mr. Andrews. He knew of twenty or thirty persons in his own small circle who, though they occupied good homes, were among the 6000 applicants for State houses. It was j ridiculous to talk of housing on such j j valuable land as the Taita. He had I asked competent valuers the economic value of two acres of productive land at Taita, and the lowest value was £5000, based on the production alone. H©w could that be an economic proi position to use for housing? If the i people were to receive value the land was too valuable; if they were not to receive value it would be confiscation and not compensation. He ! would go as far. as to say that the area should be zoned as market garden land and not be allowed to be used for any other purpose. Fresh vegetables were vitally important, and the Government should be asked to prove that fresh vegetables could be procured elsewhere. If all the Government members would face the question in the same unbiased way as Mr. Combs, the question would be soon settled. Interest was intense all over New Zealand, and right should succeed against might. (Applause.) z mr; mawson's position. Mr. S. Blackley said he did not blame Mi\ Mawson, who was a civil servant doing the bidding of the Government. It had been quite wrong to put him in the position he held and one he had not desired *to have. The proposed committee had not been set up, presumably because it was feared 'they would not do what the Government wanted. Houses had to be built in the Hutt Valley, but there was plenty of better housing land. The trouble was the autocracy of the Housing Department, which refused to cooperate with the local bodies. He felt sure a case could be put to Mr. Mawson, for it was a question of fact they had to deal with. They had got to see that the 5000 houses were, put where they would not interfere with production and wjiere people would not have to be evicted. . TOMATOES FOR SAUCE. Mr. Cooksley read a letter from Kirkpalricks, of Nelson, in which the firm stated that if it did not get Hutt tomatoes, of which it took 200 tons a year, it would have to ask the Government to-permit the importation ..of pulp. Mr. W. A. Murdoch, on behalf oi the Wellington sauce makers, said that unless they had a ■ supply of tomatoes as handy as in the Hutt Valley they, would suffer in the competitive market and would probably have to reduce staff, which meant a reduction in the making of cartons, bottles, labels, etc. ' . ' Mr. Andrews said.Mr. Mawson had months ago assured!"him that' the Taita producers would not be evicted unless as good or better land within an economic radius was provided. Mr. Mawson had also assured him that the Government had not planned the area to be taken, and yet at the time the borough had received plans which showed the roads and railway. The Hon. V. Ward said*the speakers had put forward an unanswerable case, and he would use every effort to assist them.

The motion above,was then put and carried.