BEYOND REASON

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4341, 9 October 1950, Page 10

BEYOND REASON

COST OF DEVELOPMENT BREAKING IN NEW LAND JOB NOW FOR THE TAXPAYER That a strong protest be me.de to (the Government against the reduction of money made available for Crown land develiopment as shown in the budget recently presented by the Minister of Finance, was the text of a remit f rom the Paeroa brianich of Federated 'Farmers discussed at the executive meeting held recently in Thames of the Northern Thames subiprovimce of the organisation. In speaking to the remit Mr C. G. Jackson, of Paeroa, said the branch was concrened with the fact that Crown lands were neglected and insufficient attention was devoted to the development of idle Crown lands. Mr J. JE. (Silcock, of. Paeroa, spoke also in support of the remit, sa/ing that as far as he could see all Governments of recent years had neglected their duty to open up the land they held and make it available for private individuals to develop. Mr W. H. Cheale, of Nether ton, thought that more information was required before the matter was dealt with by the executive. - Mr H. R. Hicks, of Ngatea, thought it would be safe to support in principle the developmesnt of idle l.'.nds but he desired more information be-

fore passing a remit which was a censure on the amount of money provided in the budget for a specific purpose. It was true, said ’Mr D. A. Hill, of Kerepehi, that the 'money for development had been cut down , and for good reason in his opinion. The 'cost had now risen bey and all reason and no private individual could (develop land at the present ipriice. Even easy coiuntry. the easiest country in New Zealand (that at Kerepehi), now cost £lO5 an acre to develop. No private individual could possibly bring in land at that figure. Only the taxpayer could develop land, said Mr Hill. Mr R. E. Tye put forward the proposal that enquiry be made of the Minister as to why the vote for development had been reduced and that he be asked to explain the position. A resolution to that effect was carried.