LAND SETTLEMENT

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3445, 15 November 1932, Page 5

LAND SETTLEMENT

POSSIBILITIES IN KING COUNTRY. MR. BROADFOOT OPTIMISTIC. At the half-yearly meeting of the Tangitu Settlers' Association Mr. W. J. Broadfoot spoke regarding the necessity of furthering land settlement in the Dominion. He said that the Minister of Native Affairs had heen accused of extravagance in his native land development schemes, but the fact remained that under these schemes over 60,000 acres of land that had formerly heen nonproductive was now under cultivation, and it would be better for the critics to withhold judgment until the true facts were known regarding these schemes. "I believe," said Mr. Broadfoot, "that we have the greatest reservoir in the King Country for land settlement. The district was not in good repute in some quarters, but this feeling was gradually being broken clown, for it was being realised that there were great possibilities to be found here for placing new settlers on the land." Mr. Broadfoot went on to express the hope that there would be a forward move in placing more men on the land. New Zealand had to live by the land, and would have to continue doing so for many years to come. He then went to state that while there were large areas in the King Country affected by volcanic ash, there being eight layers of this ash in some parts, this problem was being overcome by the soil survevs being carried out in many parts. A remedy was now almost certain for the soil deficiences. A word of praise was due to Mr. C. M. Wright for his work in this connection at Mairoa, for it was due to his efforts that the problem of soil deficiency had been solved in this district, which might mea'n that millions of acres in the North Island, hitherto considered to be worthless, could be made productive. There must be co-ordination between the Native Department and the Government in land settlement. If the natives were willing to hand over their surplus lands fcr European settlement, then the Government was justified in providing the money for the development of native lands for the owners. The development of 60,000 acres of native lands will make provision for 6000 Maori families, and these Maori farmers will relieve the European settlers of some of the burden of rating and other charges on the land. "It has been said that the presentday world troubles are due to overproduction." said Mr. Broadfoot, "but I don't believe it. It has been shown that there has been a drop of 60 per cent, in world trade, and this is mainly due to the tariffs. The decisions at Ottawa were meant to be a weapon of defence and not of aggression, for Britain would welcome trade treaties with other countries, but does not want to be the dumping ground for the rest of the world. The change of Government in the United States provided promise of a lowering of the tariffs of that country, and this would benefit the whole world." Speaking at a later stage of the meeting, Mr. Georgetti said that it was the duty of the Government to help the men already on the land before going in for new settlement. If the young single men wanted to go on the land let them do as the early pioneers did —come out and battle for themselves. If any man was prepared to spend 20 years in the back country he was surely entitled to some rest, but the slump came along and the farmers had all to start again. "I feel sure, however," said Mr. Georgetti, "that we have in our settlers men who have the heart not to give up."