Greatest Attention On Developing Northland

Northern Advocate, 19 July 1949, Page 6

Greatest Attention On Developing Northland

“NORTHLAND is receiving- more attention regarding- land development than any other area in New Zealand, considering the population and land area,” said the Minister of Lands and Rehabilitation (Mr Skinner) in Whangarei this morning. “Ex-servicemen are being settled on farms in Northland cheaper than in any other part of New Zealand,” he added.

The Minister left for Auckland before noon after addressing a public meeting on compulsory military training at the Town Hall last night.

capabilities of Northland land, but he thought everything possible was being done in the bringing of all idle Northland land into production—a big undertaking indeed.

A report on last year's activities in land development in Northland, and the programme for this year, was now being prepared, he said. This would be made available to Northland Federated Farmers, and to the Advocate. Mr Skinner said that the development of idle lands in Northland was a long-term scheme, but he would not be satisfied until as much land was nossible was put into production. “We could of course stop alt de.vpnn.fi a other provinces, and concentrate on Northland, and, although that would satisfy people here think of of what the others would say.” the Minister went on.

Regarding Waipoua Forest, Mr Skinner said that, until the public petition went before the House no plans could be made regarding it. He hud hoped to have available areial photographs of the whole forest area, but a complete photograph had so far been impossible because of cloud over some part when tbe photographs were being taken. The whole of New Zealand was be-

" oho'osraphed by air, he said. So far, about 46 per cent of the Dominion had been covered. Mr Skinner had little to say regarding rehabilitation in Northland other than what was contained in the latest report Irom the department.

No one realised more than he the