Rehabilitation Meeting in Kaitaia

Northland Age, Volume XII, Issue 44, 12 August 1943, Page 1

Rehabilitation Meeting in Kaitaia

The habilitation meeting convened by the Mangonui County Council and held in the Masonic Social Hall on Friday, August 6, was attended by representatives of the County Council Kaitaia Town Board, Returned Services Association, W.W.S.A., the Churches, and a number of interested members of the general public. The County Chairman (Mr. C. J. Barriball) presided, and the County Clerk (Mrs. E. A. Nilsson) was unanimously appointed Secretary to the meeting. The Secretary read the original letter to the County Council from the Rehabilitation Board in Wellington asking the Council for suggestions in regard to rehabilitation in their area, and the Chairman asked for suggestions and comment on the position from those present. Mr. Wrathall remarked that it was strange that although the letter had been received in December 1942 by the Council, which was the most important body concerned in the matter, it had been left until now to call the meeting. He supported an afforestation scheme which had been approved by the Department in the eastern portion of the County and which he hoped would form part of a general scheme. Mr. L. A. Mclntosh was not in favour of pick and shovel work for returned men under Public Works schemes which were only a “stopgap,” and said that to rehabilitate a man he must have a life job. Good land which would give them a living should be set aside for them and the charges on the land should be reduced to the basis of productive value. Mr. J. N. Beasley said the County must get its share of rehabilitation schemes to prevent people from drifting away to other areas; that even before the war almost every good young fellow was leaving the district and that unless they increase the pop-

ulation, in 100 years the Maoris would rule the country. Mr. F. Holder said there was no other place where so many men could be put on the land, and that there were thousands of acres in the north doing nothing. Better road communications were wanted in the county w'hich was more suited to development than any place in New Zealand Mr. J. B. Reynolds appealed to the meeting to keep politics out of their discussions, and said that the Returned Services’ Association had more in-

formation about rehabilitation than any other body and had formulated schemes but had not got anywhere. He advocated pressing the Government for better roading facilities to the North, and said that a straight road over the Mangamuka Gorge was worth fighting for. A lot of returned men would be required on the skilled work connected with roading. He also agreed with re-afforestation in the North and the development of land in blocks, saying that even if the cost was £2O per acre and the productive value only £8 to £8 10/- per acre it would still be a national asset. Mr. Arnold Puckey was not in favour of placing returned men on the peat country on account of the danger from fire which he said could burn it

right down to water level. Mr. C. B. Michie said that the men must have land of good quality so that the disastrous consequences of putting men on poor land, as had been done previously, could not recur and they should ensure that such mistakes were reduced to a minimum. There should be no emotional enthusiasm for projects for which the returned servicemen would have to pay, as he should have first consideration in postwar re-construction, and the needs of their district were not important compared to servicemen’s rehabilitation. He agreed that pick and shovel work was the policy of despair and that mechanical equipment must be utilised. Mr. W. Vickers considered that there was very little land in the north not suitable for settlement, and there were many areas where a comfortable living could be made running sheep or dry stock. He thought that a number of the men might shy off dairying. Mr. A. Holder said that the second class land could be brought in successfully and land already roaded but not in use should be taken over. Mr. E. T. Frost advocated re-affor-estation on a large scale, as it was no longer an experiment and 25 years’ growth would make the timber fit for the wood pulp industry which was making great strides. The fishing industry could also be developed both for manure and fish oil. Mr. E. R. Bird advised caution in regard to the farming industry which he thought had almost shot its bolt as an exporting industry. Settlement was no good without a market and there was as yet no clearly defined Government policy over a period. He would not condemn the men to a wandering life on the Public Works. Mr. J. T. B. Taaffe suggested the

maintaining of a civilian army by the Government when the men returned, utilising the existing camps for accommodation. There would be many men who were only fit both mentally and physically for pick and shovel work, and mechanical equipment should be used with moderin methods and the roads put in order without being a charge on local bodies. He believed in afforestation provided the areas were wisely selected. Housing was very important as the boys were justified in wanting to marry on their return and the housing situation was worse now than before they went away. Mr. H. Thompson said that the men should get good land near social centres and not be isolated, but they might require training before settlement. Mrs. A. W. Bird drew attention to the financial position of boys and girls who wished to marry on their return and said they could not be expected to bring up families without a comfortable living. Family allowances should be increased to keep them happily settled in comfortable jobs. Mrs. D. Buckle agreed that men should not be demobilised until they could be absorbed into industry. It would be a crime to release them wholesale, and they could be kept and clothed in peace as in war. No land should be settled until adequately served by roads. Mr. J. W. Hoskin suggested the setting up of a separate committee to examine each aspect of rehabilitation, and Mr. Reynolds pointed out that the principles of rehabilitation had already been established by the Government and could not be altered. W’e should have started, he said, three years ago. Mr. L. A. Mclntosh said any aim should be for permanent settlement and not floating. The Native population was well adapted for re-affores-tation as a permanent employment and approximately 50 per cent of the population in the county were Maoris. Only a percentage of the Maoris would be successful on the land. The County Council were asked to suggest to the Rehabilitation Board what lines county rehabilitation should take and no committee formed here would have any status in Wellington. The following resolution was then proposed by Mr. C. B. Michie, seconded by Mr. Mclntosh and passed un-

animously : “That this rehabilitation meeting is of the opinion that the aim in the rehabilitation of soldiers should be to enable each individual to make the greatest contribution to the happiness of himself and the community, and that as far as this county is concerned rehabilitation must necessarily be confined to (1) —Farming; (2) — Re-afforestation and subsequent industrial developments; (3) —Trades and adult education; (4)—A progressive public works roading policy with initial preference for modern access to the railhead. And that provision be made for a survey of available land in the county with a view to areas being reserved for farming and other purposes.”