WORK STOPPED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 143, 19 May 1932, Page 2

WORK STOPPED

GALATEA DEVELOPMENT. SURPRISE IN DISTRICT. ROTORUA, May 18. The possibility of operations on the Galatea Estate ceasing for a period of from three to five years has caused a great deal of comment in this district. Everyone is frankly puzzled at the complete cessation of development work, especially after so much has been done and a large sum of money expended. Even Mr C. H. Clinkard, M.P. for tho district, was not fully aware of the Government’s action, and when interviewed recently expressed surpriso that there should bo any suggestion of locking up the estate. He said he would at once communicate with the Lands Department. There does not appear to be any room for doubt that the Government has ceased development operations, and that for some reason it does not intend to resume them at any early date. Fencers, scrub cutters, nnvvies and cultivators have all been discharged, and there are now only about five men on the whole job. Shortage of money has, no doubt, largely been responsible for the cessation of work, but it is suggested that there are other causes, and that blunders have been made which will require a lot of explanation.

TOTAL OUTLAY, £134,637. The area of Galatea is 22,325 acres. It was purchased from Mr H. E. Troutbeck for £78,137 10s, an average of £3 10s an acre. Jn addition, roads and bridges have cost £50,000,. scrub cutting £2OOO, and fencing £4500 making a total outlay of £134,637. As matters stand, this. capital investment is to remain practically unproductive. True there are 7500 sheep and 700 cattle on the [dace, but this is a paradoxical situation when it is remembered that the station was taken for closer settlement and that when in one big run it carried 18,000 sheep, 50 horses and 1500 liead of cattle. It needs but a glance nt these figures to visualise what the country is losing in interest on the capital outlay alone. But there is also the loss involved by keeping the 200 families who were to settle tho estate upon the labour market and forcing them into other schemes for tho help of unemployment.

OTHER LOSSES KNOWN. Those who are in a position to know, however, can point to other grave losses. For example, there is tho fencing. Approximately there have been 18 to 20 miles of fencing laid out—that is, carried out and laid along the lines ready for erection—at a cost of Is per chain. This is. all being lifted again at the cost of another Is a chain. When the Government decides to resume the job tho material will have to bo laid out once more at the cost of still another shilling. Tho labour cost of erecting fences has only been about 4s to 4s 6d a chain, while the loss on the Government change of policy will amount to 3s a chain. At the same time posts are being carted from Galatea to Ngakuru for use in that area, where fencing is being continued. While at Ngakuru splendid breakwinds were planted almost as a first step toward effective settlement, not a tree has been planted at Galatea, and it is declared by experienced men that the lines laid out in many cases are useless to provide shelter even if covered with trees. There is also a contention that the subdivision of the estate is faulty and will require drastic revision.

SUGGESTIONS FOR SETTLEMENT.

If the Government cannot find money to go on with tho development of Galatea upon ordinary land settlement lines it is believed here that much could bo satisfactorily done by assistance from the unemployment fund. A suggestion has been made by a group of 12 settlers at Galatea for assisted private enterprise, which might b'e of material help in bringing the lands of the estate into profit. The plan is to offer a block of suitable size to a group of approved applicants, who would agree to the subdivision of the area and ballot for the sections. .They would then do their own fencing and “breaking in” at reduced rates of pay, thus keeping down, In their own interests, the capital outlay on tho land. Government assistance would be required to bring in about 40 to 50 acres to milk on for a start, but it would not be long before the holders attained a measure of independence, and suitable arrangements could be mado for them to acquire the land. It is strongly urged that by letting the prospective owners work on tho land at a wage, which could be supplemented by tho Unemployment Board, tho land would be brought into profitable occupation at a much lower cost than is the case under present conditions. All sections of the community feel that some practical scheme or schemes should be adopted to prevent the tragic waste involved in the cessation of development.