MINISTER OF LANDS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 March 1929, Page 4

MINISTER OF LANDS.

VISIT TO EGMONT ELECTORATE. LOCAL MATTERS DISCUSSED. In the course of his. initial journey through the southern and coastal centres of Taranaki in an official capacity, the Hon. G. W. Forbes (Minister of Lands) vesterday met representative gatherings of the business and farming communities of Normanby, Manaia, Kaponga and 'Opunake, being accompanied and introduced to each assemblage by Mr C. A. Wilkinson, M.P. for Egmont. At Normanby, the first pi ace of call, the Minister met Mr D. J. Hughes, who stated that he voided the desire of a considerable section of the local residents that a property in the locality should he acquired by the Government for the mu-poses of closer settlement. Negotiations previously entered upon in regard to change of ownership of this property had failed of completion, owing chiefly to the fact that the price asked was considered unreasonably high. The speaker urged the framing of legislation which would permit of the property being acquired for sub-dlivi-sion.

The Minister assured Mr Hughes that lie is quite in agreement with the proposal to sub-divide large blocks of good land for (settlement in small areas. The Government was deeply Interested in the question of sub-division of good land, but he could not at the moment see, a solution of the problem of overcoming certain barriers to the accomplishment of deisire in this direction. He promised, however, to give the matter his earnest consideration. The "property in question was inspected bv the Minister.

AT MANAIA. Proceeding to Manaia, the Minister was tendered an enthusiastic wel’ocme at the Town Hall by a large section of town and country residents, presided over by Mr Henry Mead, chairman of the Town Board. In the absence of Mir E. Long, chairman of the Waimate West County Council. Mr A. Gamlin extended a welcome to- the Minister on behalf of the country residents and introduced the question of recompense by the Government to countv councils who had taken time bv the forelock and laid down the tar-sealed roads prior to the formation of the Highways Board. Mr Gamlin’s appeal was supported by Mr Wilkinson. The Minister isaidl that in view of the facts presented, he must recognise the justness of the council’s request. The matter should be 1 further pressed, more especially as the Highways Board was financially strong and more able to meet claims than in the earlier stages of its existence.

CLOSER SETTLEMENT URGED. •Oln arrival at Kaponga tne Ministerial party was met and welcomed to the -district by about twenty prominent members of .the community. Air R, A. Law, -deputy-chairman of the Kaponga Town Board, apologised ' ior the absence of the chaiiman (Mr A. R. Bates) and expressed the hope that the Minister’s efforts in the- task of more closely settling the farm lands of Taranaki would be crowned with the success- they deserved. Returning thunks for the welcome accorded him, the Minister said that Taranaki provided an excellent object lesson in production. On present figures for the current year there were already convincing indications of a record season for the dairying industry, and he was pleased to- say that Tara- ( naki’s high returns for primary products was reflected throughout the country. The higher the production the -better it would be for New Zealand. He had every assurance that the season would finish- up a good one, and hoped it would prove a forerunner of stilj’ better seasons. In his own experience the Cheviot Estate had shown what could be don*, in the direction of closer settlement, and he paid -a high compliment to the Agricultural Department for its successful efforts in the dissemination -of useful information to the farming community, backed) by proven experiments with grains and artificial manures, and instruction by scientists at farm schools. There was no doubt that the surest method of getting the best out of the . land was the adoption of scientific principles.

Ren’ying to a. query advanced by Mr J. Hessell as to the rate of intereeit on State advances and rural! credits and a statement that he had experienced difficultv in obtaining information on the subject, the Minister said the rate of interest had not -been altered. NOXIOUS WEEDS AND ROADS, rue next .stage m tfie Minister’s itinerary was opunake, wiiere, alter iimcaeon, he met members or tne jtgmont oounty Council, citizens ana ■lepresentatives of tne surrounding country population.

The county chairman (Mr W. G. Green) made pointed reference to the prevalence of noxious weeds throughout the Parihaka Inode (generally., and on unoccupied lands m particular. He could not suggest a remedy, and did not Know it tlie new Government could cope with tlie menace. Speaking broadly, the mud owner or occupier responsible lor the eradication of a few .specimens of noxous weeds received plenty of attention from inspectors, but in xive case or unoccupied country, emi bracing thousands of acres of badlylinestecL lands, little or nothing was done in tne way of extermination. Councillor J. ,S. Tos and is tressed the importance of •miewed l ellorts to clear tlie country. Aative landholders and. some settlers had done very little. Inspectors regularly prosecuted, and that was tne end of the business for a year, or at best until the next round of prosecutions was due. Noxious weeds had proved .a menace and bar to production and if the Minister could evolve a means j •of keeping them in check he woul d confer a lasting benefit on the community. Councillor Gibson endorsed and supplemented Or. Tosland’is remarks.

Asked lor his opinion, Air Wilkinson said! the Minister .shorncl be. encouraged to establish a. more thorough local control of the menace. Greater powers should be allowed to local bodies. The remedy might not be popular, but he thought it might prove effective. The .Minister upturned thanks lor his reception, and said that lie appreciated the opportunity to discuss with responsible heads the needs of the locality. From Iris experience of the northern lands of New Zealand, be> recognised that more stringent methods must be adopted. He thought the matter .should be resolutely tackled by qualified repi'osentatives of affected" districts, and cited the work effected by rabbit boards. Noxious weeds must be assailed jn the same way as the rabbit nest. It was no good relying mi the Government to do the whole of the work; settlers must get together and supplement the efforts of the department concerned. WIREAIU ROAD.

Councillor E. A. Cob ins referred _ to the parlous state of various roads which required codling up. to connect with the Wiremu Road, now being put through

by the Public Works Department. What was tli© use of pushing fonvaird completion of Wirenm Road if others did not connect? he asked. From 50 to 100 of the unemployed! might with advantage be put on to the work, and Or. Co him- asked that the unemployed (about 50 in number) now engaged in the district, be retained for the purpose. The uenuisition was supported' by Messrs Allan Campbell and G. Holmes, settlers on Upper lhaia Road. The chairman stated that lands adjacent to the upper roads in question would not stand the imposition of further rates. The Minister said lie would use his best endeavours to secure agreement with the request in the right quarter.