PUMICE LANDS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 75, 29 March 1919, Page 5

PUMICE LANDS.

DNSTinJABLEroiI SatBIEES.

(United Brega Association.)

WELLIWGT'UW, March 2d

The Hon, D. H. Guthrie, recently inspected the pumice lands in the centre of the Worth Island,with a view to considering their suitability tor secernent by soldieig or other settlers. ; B,e says the pumice lands have . been wrongly condemned because they are ■ not Understood. There are great possibilities .in .the lands,, but they required, time, expert , knowledge, and capital to bring them in-o production, ahd for reason he did not Hunk it possible to.. place soldiers' on the . undeveloped, tapd m small; holdings. The Governmentcould not simply place sdldiers qn the ..land and, then consider.; Vhe; matter ended jit had a greater responsibility tp see Jfliat they. were of the class and., with the mean s to. make a success of/.their ,venture. ; and therefore ijb,' might be mpph easier to sett!© soldiers without much capital on land in oher parts pf flfew Zealand which could more qnickly be brought into ■ a state production, and without the same capital expenditure, He had stated to a deputation at Rp'prna that he would ~ be prppaped if Cabinet approved to place one hundred returned, soldiers pn a -J&civeirnnieiit block; of 12,000 acres of, pumice; lands to work on wages, under skilled, supervising in bringing the land into ;production. When they had training: on the land and, ,1t was sufficiently developed they would be given the option of taking up. sections oil any of the Government tenures tliey might chops?, but lie w'a* hot prepared to rcconuptnd the Government to Liy. oth V , lands on winch to make tr. s experiment wlun it had thousands of icres -of. the,same. class "of country in'; its poseesdon already, awaiting iovelonment. The Hon. D. H., Guthrie fpidher states that' Cabinet has approved the pnrchkse of 13,000 acre,, of land knoiyn ak thil Kenaroa block, ‘which will _ ’P® ; available for settlement by sold "ers. The block is situated 25 miles _ from Rotorua, and is suitable for dahy farthing. The Minister says that the 'acquisition of this land is the first . iffiportant step towards opening up the vast tracts in the interior of the Worth Island. The bulk of the land is rich , swamp land.