RANGITAIKI PLAINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19143, 8 October 1925, Page 12

RANGITAIKI PLAINS.

SETTLERS AND GOVERNMENT. MR. HOCKLY CLAIMS SUPPORT. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] \VH AK AT AN" E, Wednesday. Sneaking at Whakatane the Government candidate. Mr. F. L- Hocklv, referred to the result of the Royal Commission set up to deal with the Hangilaiki Plains problems. Never had anything so generous been recommended by any Royal Commission in this country, he' said. They went a long way further than tlie Ministry intended. The total amount, remitted was £405,235, and nothing more likely to give settlers a chance had ever been done in New Zealand. He was sure the result was satisfactory to the great majority of the settlers. (Applause. ) Portions of the report had not been dealt with this session because the matters were intricate and required further investigation. X'he Minister, however, intended to deal with these next session. So far as maintenance and the setting up of a board was concerned, the Minister was willing to meet the wishes of the settlers for ail time. The settlers were going to receive, a subsidy for maintenance of 10s in the £l. "The proposals of the Government are generous to a degree, ' said Mr. Hockly, "and you owe Mr. McLeod the deepgpt debt of gratitude." The speaker went on to say the Rangitaiki River must be stopbanked and the Whakatane River required straightening and protecting. The floods showed that these things were necessary. The, Minister was fully alive to the necessity for these works,"and the speaker was going to press these matters at once. Mr. McLeod liasi stood bv you." said the candidate. "Are. you going to stand by him ? Once lie is firmly seated in office he will tackle these problems and g.ve you all Die satisfaction you arc looking for." Mr. Hocklv said he had given the electors six years of service and he claimed that they had been six years of very faithful service. A hearty vote of thanks and confidence was carried.