WEST COAST LAND DEVELOPMENT

Grey River Argus, 25 August 1949, Page 4

WEST COAST LAND DEVELOPMENT

COMMMITTEE MEETS Proposals Outlined The West Coast Land Development Committee met at t“e Lvceum Hall yesterday, about 50 attending and Mr F. A. Kitchingham presiding. Mr J. B. Kent, M.P., wrote, stating that he considered it a pleasure and .a duty to do in his power to facilitate the development of the lands of the West Coast. He wished the committee every success. He also forwarded the annual report of the Marketing Department. Mr M. Wallace said the proposals formulated iat a previous meeting of the committee were now here for the perusal of all. He invited questions and suggestions frem anyone i;n the hall. WesUand had the essentials of a farming nrovince, and it. was their ernest endeavour to materialise them. He would like to see a permanent committee elected. He had a lot of faith in the productive capacity of the land of the province. Some farms could put, un figures comparable with those of the leading North Island farms. Between Napier and Wellington. pract’callv every acre of land those or the hill tops was in use. The only parts of the West Cm?,st where there were not two* inches of ton soil, were the mountain tops and river beds. The order of references under the proposal included suggestions which anyone with the future of the West Coast at heart, would endeavour to see materialised. The poorer land, where no scientific attempt had been made to see whether it could grow grass was where future prosperity lay. If this land could be induced to grow grass, the whole of the province would be revolutionised, concluded Mr Wallace. ; The following proposals of the Special Committee were adopted: — (1) That combined representations be made to the Minister of Lands and Rehabilitation, seeking an assurance that before any any land in the areas covered by this organisation, offered to the. Crown for rehabilita- ; tion purposes is turned down by the Crown representatives as being unsuitable (a) as a single unit, or (b) for sub-division, the matter be re- , ferred to the committtee for an expresssion of opinion as to its suit- ! ability or otherwise. —Carried. ! (2) That a fund be established from which assistance can be given towards encouraging settlement in isolated areas whereby new settlers on • single units or sub-divided areas, say ’ over 20 miles from the railway, may [ be relieved from payment of rates ; over a minimum of the first ■ five 1 years. > (3) That areas of sa v 25 acres each of third class land in the three ; counties be selected for purposes of . ‘test’ by the' committee and that the ■ expenses and costs of such develop--1 ment be a charge on the suggested , fund to be established by contribu- • tions from all West Coast local ■ bodies and from other interested district organisations. , (4) That of the cost and expenses ■ of developmental work on second ’ and third class lands, only the ultii mate productive value of such land ' shall be a charge against the oc- ■ cupier, and that the balance of the I- cost be treated as a national develop- ; ment charge and met from Government financial contributions. i (5) That all West Coast local • bodies be requested to 'undertake the ■ levying of a rate on the basis of the capital value or the eqivalent thereof for the purpose of financing the ‘ above proposals. (6) That the strongest possible ' representations be made to the Gov- ' eminent for exemption from taxation • of all costs and charges incurred in ‘ bringing areas, not fully developed, into production. (7) That a sum of at least £5OO ■ be raised annually by voluntary community effort for distribution by way . of prize money to farmers showing the greatest degree of development of areas of not less than 50 acres and that the conditions of competit.on, the appointment of judges, and I allocation of prize money, be framed by the proposed organisation. (8) That approaches be made to Westland Catchment Board and to all West Coast County Councils that any plant hired from them for development of second and third class lands be charged for on the basis of actual working costs only—standing charges and general overhead on the same not to be taken into account in framing working costs. In outlining the proposals, Mr Wallace said that in the minds of | some there have been cases where the rehabilitation department has turned down suitable land. Where a man has difficulty infringing his land into producing order all possible assistance will be given him. Land was divided into three clases: (1) River flat, (2) Dairying land effiicient and suitable for grass growing (3) that land in the Kumara Junction area and in parts of the Grey Valley. The third class of land if properly drained and dressed with lime would grow grass then the committee would have a good case to place before the Government.* This could, it is thought be done at a modest cost There may .be all sorts of ifs and buts in the way but they can be overcome. The developing of third-class land is beyond the private owner but there is support forthcoming from the Federated Farmers, the Dominion Dairy Commission and numerous other -sources. The whole scheme requires a united effort , from everyone in the province wnere ever he may be or what his occupation is. The town v. country part-of it must be discarded. Official reports from London show that West Coast 'butter is second to none that is being imported into England. The Addington market which is handy to the West Coast is among the best in the Dominion. If we are prepared to show the powers that be, that we have the incentive to go and they will help us, concluded Mr Wallace. Mi’ Wallace said that he was pleased to say on behalf of the committee that all the proposals were adapted and a permanent committee was to be set up. If Buller eventually pulls in with the West Coast there will be an area embracing Karamea to th e far south added Mr Wallace. Mr G. R. Harker then moved that the previous committee comprising Messrs M. Wallace (chairman), W. Clayton, J. E. Laing, R. J. Truman, J. Mulcare, A. Topp and J. Saunders (secretai*y) be appointed the permanent committee with the power to add. This proposal was adapted. Mr Wallace said that the first essential was to get the support of all local bodies and individual interested. Then the Government would be asked to send representatives here to inspect the proposals. Finally the committee may have to become some board with' certain powers but not be able to dictate to all. v Mr J. Saunders said that the Rehabilitation Farmers’ Training Com- ; mittee was to hold a meeting at the office of Crown Lands, Hokitika, on : Monday next and invitations had been extended to the various organisations to be present. Mr J. W. Greenslade suggested that the value of the work done bv the committee be placed on record. 1 Mr W. Sadler said that the com- '* mittee has given an incentive to the 1 farmers. The very fact that the dis- 1

trict is waking up to the work done 'by the farmers will have a definite psychological effect on them he contended.