NORTH AUCKLAND DEVELOPMENT BOARD

Northland Age, Volume 14, Issue 45, 19 July 1917, Page 5

NORTH AUCKLAND DEVELOPMENT BOARD

LAND SETTLEMENT ROADS AND RAILWAYS THE following is a copy of a Petition which has been forwarded by the President of the North Auckland Development Board to the Executive for approval, after which it will be circulated for signature throughout the North Auckland Peninsula and Auckland city: — To the Hon. the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament. Gentlemen— Your Petitioners realising the great disability under which the settlers of the Northern Peninsula labour owing to the obstruction of settlement caused hy the large areas of Native and Crown land lying idle throughout the Territory, strongly urge that immediate steps be taken hy the Government to make these lands available for settlement. When the war is over thousands of men will be coming to New Zealand, not our soldiers who are returning, but many who will be attracted should a businesslike publicity campaign be inaugurated by the Government. Thus a unique opportunity presents itself for a great forward movement in the land settlement policy of our Dominion. The settlement of our Northern lands involves the construction of Railways and Roads. Your Petitioners have no doubt whatever hut that the vigorous construction of the Main Trunk Line to the Far North, the completion of the Whangarei connection, with branch lines to the principal Ports, and the construction of a good arterial road, would he immediately highly payable propositions. Your Petitioners urge that instead of the past limited borrowing policy that largely increased amounts should be secured, the expenditure of which could he distributed over a reasonable number of years, and that once a road or railway was started it shouldbe carried on expeditiously to a successful conclusion on the lines adopted by Canada and other progressive Dominions. Under this system our cost of production would be reduced to a minimum, and the country rendered immediately available for settlement. We would also point out the great disability under which the present settlers labour in raising special loans for road improvements owing to the large areas of land in many counties being Native and Crown and therefore not rateable. In conclusion, your petitioners being convinced that the most effective and businesslike method of providing funds to meet our heavy war burden, is to settle our idle lands and enormously increase our exports, trust that you will give these great questions your most immediate and serious consideration. The Annual Conference of the above Board takes place in the Chamber of Commerce rooms, Auckland, on Friday, 31st August The following remits havealready been sent in by Public Bodies for discussion. “That this Conference be urged to strongly support the following petition” (Published in another column.) “That the Government be requested at the termination of the war to pay into all Local Bodies annually the total amount of rates on Native Lands in each County, and make all such payments a lien on such lands on the same principle as the present survey liens, and in the meantime this Board suggests that the law be amended so that in case of Native Land having no title in the offices of the District Land Registrar or Registrar of Deeds the lien for unpaid rates should be registered against the title in the Native Land Court. “That an independent Board of advice be set up by the Government to classify all Public Works according to their importance and to decide the question of priority of construction.” “That the Government be requested to

bring into operation the proposed Counties Classification Act Scheme a.b.c.d. with a maximum of £1 for £1 subsidy on the whole of the rates collected within a County.” “That the Government be requested to tnl e over all the Main Arterial Roadways throughout the Dominion.” “That the Land Purchase Board be requested to immediately secure suitable land in the North Auckland Peninsula for the settlement of returned soldiers.” “That before roads and railways are constructed by the Government, The Native Lands through which they pass should be acquired by the State.” “That as a large area of land in the Northern Peninsula is being destroyed by sandrifts, steps should be taken at once by the Government to deal with the menace.” “That the Government be urged to urdertake a Comprehensive Publicity Campaign, demonstrating the attractions of New Zealand from a Farmers point of view. And emphasising the the necessity of putting this work in hand bcfoie the termination af the war.” “1 hat as soon as money is available a Geological Suivey of the North Aucklard Peninsula be undertaken.” “That the restriction placed by the Government cn the rate of interest paid on money borrowed by Local Bodies b« removed, as it unduly hampers their operations.” “That the splendid area of Crown Land known as the Motutangi Swamp, lying between Waiharara and Houhora be drained and thrown open for settlement.” “That the Government be urged to expedite the construction of good roads from Kaitaia and Mangonui, towards the railway in the vicinity of Okaihau.” “That the Government be requested to pass Legislation to enable marine areas to be sold to adjoining owners, or that in suitable localities the Government reclaim them under the system adopted in the Swamp Drainage Scheme.” “That with a view of providing cheap and wholesome food for the people, and utilising the large areas of country suitable for fruitgrowing, the Government be urged to give special encouragement to the Fishery and Fruitgrowing industries.” “That the Government Tourist Department be requested to advertise and give every publicity to the attractions of the Northern Peninsula from a Tourists point of view, and especially to draw attention to the beauties of the Hauraki Gulf, Russell, Whangaroa, Mangonui, the Majesty of the Ninety-Mile Beach near Kaitaia, the glories of the Hokianga and W airoa Rivers, and the splendid Mineral Springs at Helensvillc, Waiwera, Kamo and Kaikohe.” “That in laying out the spillways across the bends in the Awanui River in connection with the Drainage Scheme, the Governmet be requested to have them placed in such a position s will render them suitable for navigation,” “ That this Conference realising that many soldiers on being called up, have to sell their farms at a sacrifice, urge that should the soldiers so desire, these lands be purchased at a fair price by the State, payments to be made by debentures, if necessary.” “ That a toil survey of the North Auckland Peninsula be taken in hand by the Government as soon as an officer is available.” “ That as the new system of Taxation requires proper books to be kept in order to accurately fill in the returns, this Conference advocates that book keeping be a compulsory subject in our State Schools.” “That the Tax on Oil Engines used by Farmers be abolished.” “ That the Government be urged to prevent the importation of calves into the North Auckland Peninsula from infected districts, until they have been inocculated for Blackleg.” “ That this Conference, whilst realising that a large extra amount of money has to be found to meet the war expenditure, feels that the present Excess Profits Tax is unjust in its incidence and advocates a Graduated Land and Income Tax in its stead.” “ That the Butter Fat Tax being essentially a class tax should be abolished.” “That in view of the urgent necessity of settling our idle lands and to assist to bear our heavy burden of war taxation, the Government be requested to at once start a Comprehensive Immigration Scheme, giving special encouragement to farmers and farm labourers.” (The above remits, also the proposed petition to Parliament—with the exception of remits I to 3 forwarded to the Development Board by the Hokianga and Mangonui County Councils, and the Auckland Railway League—were fully considered by the Executive of the Kaitaia Chamber of Commerce on Monday last and approved.)