LAND AGGREGATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17666, 19 December 1917, Page 7

LAND AGGREGATION.

ITS EFFECT ON CANTERBURY. SERIOUS LOSS OF POPULATION. In a leading article yesterday the “ Lyttelton Times ” dealt with the serious position of Canterbury through the drift of its male population to the North Island, and urged that an agitation for the closer settlement of land in the province is urgently needed.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Council of the National Efficiency Board yesterday, the Mayor made a reference to the subject. No appeal for efficiency could be properly made, said Mr Holland, without considering the present condition of settlement in Canterbury. The province was rapidly losing population, mainly through land aggregation Largo areas of land in Canterbury needed to be subdivided and more profitably occupied. It was heartbreaking to ricle through Banks Peninsula for miles and not sec a single house. He was there to speak primarily for the efficiency of Canterbury and to hold up the honour of the province. He would be glad if the council would do something to help to. retain the .services of the young men. A deputation was to wait on Sir Joseph Yard on the following day, and perhaps some of the council would also accompany it. He did not mind so much losing the three seats in Parliament as the great loss to the community of trade, money, etc. The North Island was progressing, and, although lie was not envying the North Island!' he hoped the council would give serious thought to the situation that had developed regarding settlemen in Canterbury.