KAITAIA SWAMP AREA

Northern Advocate, 21 April 1933, Page 6

KAITAIA SWAMP AREA

PREPARATIONS FOR SETTLEMENT.

USE OF RELIEF LABOUR

(Special to "Northern Advocate.”)

KAITAIA, This Day

A large part of the Kaitaia swamp drainage agoa is still being unused, and a deputation of settlers suggested to the Minister of Lands, the Hon E. A, Ransom, at Kaitaia yesterday, that unemployed labour could be need in undertaking the preliminary preparation of a largo part of it for settlement.

A personal inspection of the area was made by Mr Ransom, and he told the .Mangonur County Council later that he was satisfied the Government should go ahead and open most of the remainder of the block. It would benefit the district to have it settlcrl, and ho thought this should be done as soon as possible. This part of the swamp had been improved by the drainage carried out, and some of it wae such excellent la?id that any settler would bo glad to get it. The peat area was a problem, and ho would not agree to the rich land along the river being opened while •the poorer areas were left. He was prepared to agree, however, to a subdivision giving each settler 50 acres of rich land -and a portion of peat. Mr Ransom said he would go into the question of using relief labour on drainage and reading, and that he hoped to be able to get the scheme under way very shortly.