THE KINO COUNTRY VISIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18388, 2 May 1923, Page 8

THE KINO COUNTRY VISIT.

;- i» — The < visit of a' Parliamentary party ,to the King Country draws attention afresh to one of' the most promising arid s extensive empty spaces in the North Island. / The word empty: is ' used relatively. It! is not. .so much that the 'territory carries no population, as that it contains but a fraction of those to whom it might, with other conditions, offer prosperity and ...fa';assured future; The results obtained i sectionally, in ; breaking in this interior land of promise, point to what may be expected when facilities for general close settlement arc available. Land j hunger is 'as pronounced in New ! Zealand . to-day as ever it . was. | Overseas 'there await thousands who desire the wider opportunities of a young' partly-developed country. Land already improved, ; and; yielding returns well-on the way to capacity, can never satisfy this demand. There would be little advantage if it could, as this ; would mean merely substituting ono farmer for another, without increasing the | sum total of primary production. It is regions such as the King Country which / offer the field , for a development promising a real influ- [ ence on the: progress and? general prosperity i; of the Dominion. The people 1 who have planned-the tour are sustained by the belief that their ! district is itself . the strongest argu-1 ment in favour of their 'claim to | Parliamentary consideration. -It is j to be hoped that the voice of the hills, the valleys, and the open; spaces will: prove ; sufficiency eloquent; that there will be arc used in the visiting legislators a determination to help iii .speedily making available, : for close and; profitable I settlement, this district, with : its un- [ bounded : potentialities, , . once' the land-hungry settler has his chance;