MOVING WAIKERIA

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 30, 22 January 1929, Page 2

MOVING WAIKERIA

PROPOSAL TO MINISTER LAND FOR CLOSE SETTLEMENT Te Awamutu, Jan. 18. The Ngabape-Tokanui Settlers’ Association is of the opinion that it would be in the public interest if all or part of t.he Borstal Institute property of about 5,500 acres at sVaikeria was taken over by the Lands Department and made available for closer settlement. sVith this object in view a deputation waited on the Hon. G. SV. Forbes, Minister of Lands and Agriculture, who visited Te Awamutu today. Mr. Wyllie, a member of the deputation, stated that as the present Government was concerned with the problem of closer settlement, a portion of the 55’aikeria Borstal Institute lands was admirably suited for that purpose. The institute could be re-estab-lished on land not so handy .to roads and towns. At present the land was not being handled to advantage. If divided into farms of about 80 acres the production would be increased considerably. Mr. J. T. Johnson supported the representations. He asked the Minister to consider the economic advantages of making the land available for small farms. The present Borstal camp could be shofted to another area. Closer settlement on partly-improved lands was' more likely to be successful than the old practice of placing men on unimproved lands. The Minister said he would discuss the matter with the Minister of Justice. It might be that the Minister would see the viewpoint of the Aeputationists.