LAND DEVELOPMENT

Evening Star, Issue 19408, 17 November 1926, Page 14

LAND DEVELOPMENT

AH IMPORTANT CONFERENCE [Peij United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, November 16. An important conference on land settlement was held to-night, Sir Andrew Russell presiding. The Hons. A. D. M'Leod and 0. J. Ha when,_ Mr Young (president of the Royal Society), also Sir James Allen, Mr J. B. Thompson (Under-Secretary of Lands), and Dr Reekes (Director-General of Agriculture), and numerous farmers were present. There were thirty or forty speeches, and the following resolution was carried:— That this meeting considers that A board of inquiry, with power tocall evidence, should be set up forthwith to ascertain the conditions that are preventing the profitable occupation of land already in occupation and retarding the settlement of the undeveloped lands of New Zealand, with a view to their removal. A good deal of discussion took place regarding the course of action, the proposal to set up a dominion committee being eventually dropped on the ground of expense. It was then decided: — That the Government’s attention be directed to the problems of land settlement and the financial burdens of the farmer, and that the Farmers’ Union and the Royal Agricultural Society bo asked to take charge of the matter.

Mr M'Leod, when interviewed, said the Government welcome an inquiry into land settlement, but : t could not have a large and expensive com mittce travelling about the country. It would gladly accept suggestions _for the personnel of the committee of inquiry but the nominees must bo representative farmers, and the Government must have the right to make its own appointments as well. A committee, consisting of Messrs C. C. Munro, W. G. Gribble, W_. J. Broadfoot, Edwin Harding, C. Belcher, M. 6. M'Artbur, and A. A. Ross, was set up to wait on the Royal Show Society and the Farmers’ Union in the next few days.