MEETING OF VILLAGE SETTLERS AT TAKAHUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9130, 11 August 1888, Page 5

MEETING OF VILLAGE SETTLERS AT TAKAHUE.

A meeting of settlers was held here on August 3 to consider the action of members of the House of Representatives in reference to the Village Settlement scheme. The following resolutions were passed :—l. That we, as village settlers, desire to record our appreciation of the utterances of those members who so ably defended the Village Settlement scheme in the House of Representatives on the 25th lilt., and to express our thanks for the efforts which have been made to enable its to settle on the waste lands of the colony, where, after more than twelve months' experience, we still confidently hope to make homes lor ourselves, and meet our engagements with the Government if better road communication is established. '1. That our representative, Mr. R. Hobbs, be requested to urge the Government to open a Village Settlement scheme in all respects similar to the last, with the exception that clauses shall be inserted giving the right to acquire the freehold, and providing for advances on improvements to settlers on open as well as to those on bush-covered land. Those present strongly objected to the amount spent upon road-making being charged against the Village Settlement scheme, and considered that such expenditure came rightly under the head of public works. An opinion was expressed that, but for the necessity for roads, the settlers would be much better employed in felling bush during the winter months in order to get a larger area under grass, and also that a great economy of time and money would result if the Government would pay in stores instead of cash, as, owing to existing arrangements, the local storekeepers demand exorbitant prices for giving credit on the security of the Government advances, while much time is lost in travelling long distances to obtain the stores.—[A correspondent.]