DRIFT TO TOWNS.
WARNING BY HON. A. D. Ale I, KOI) A SERIOUS PROBLEM. The opinion that New Zealand, in j common with other countries, must y within tlie next few years find a solution to those economic muses which were at pre-sent creating a drill to the cities, or else suffer dire calamity, was expressed by the Hon. A. D. McLeod (Alinister of Industries and Commerce) when speaking at- the Wairarapa Industrial Exhibition on Friday night. Statements were made by the Alinister in reply to figures brought forward by the .Mayor (Air. T. Jordan) to show how the Wairarapa was losing a large percentage of its natural increase of population, and poiniing out as a remedy closer settlement of the land. .Mr. McLeod said he lutd been acquainted with the conditions mentioned. which were not. however, peculiar to this district. He made no egotistical statement when he said that there was nobody more familiar with land conditions in New Zealand than himself. “What is more,'l want to -say that never in my whole life have 1 known a. man who had to go through what I have in adjusting and straightening land problems in this country in the last four years. It is
a serious problem that we are faced with in land settlement, and one that is affecting the whole of the British Empire and exercising the minds of is bates me ti.’’
Air. lAfcLeod went on to say that evidence as to this was afforded by the returns of the United States, which showed- that last year 660,000 people went off the land, and this state of affairs applied also to Canada and Australia. In areas of the East Coast of New Zealand there was plenty’ of room for private subdivision, but that subdivision would have to he carried out in such a manner so that a man who farmed it would have a reasonable hope of making a living for himself and family. Causes in regard to the whole problem were economic, which this country must face within the next year or dire calamity would result for inth residents of country and cities.
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Bibliographic details
Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 December 1927, Page 7
Word Count
357DRIFT TO TOWNS. Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 December 1927, Page 7
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