MINISTER ON TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20257, 17 May 1929, Page 13

MINISTER ON TOUR.

HAURAKI AND THAMES,

MANY REQUESTS BY SETTLERS.

SETTLEMENT AND DRAINAGE.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] NGATEA, Thursday.

The Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Hon. G. W. Forbes, to day commenced a tour of the Hauraki and Thames electorates. He was accompanied by Dr. C. J. lieakcs, director-general of agriculture, and Messrs. K. M. Graham, commissioner of Crown Lands, R. McMorrin, chief drainage engineer, E. Taylor, district drainage engineer, and J. Galvin, senior fields inspector to tho Lands Department.

Tho keenness of settlers to placo longdeferred requests before the Minister was early in evidence. Among matters classed as urgent was tho opening for selection of several blocks of hill country west of Waitakaruru. Messrs. G. Francis and E. Perkins also requested that several blocks between tho Maukoro Canal and the hills bo thrown open for settlement.

After viewing the areas mentioned, tho Minister promised that tho representations would bo carefully noted. Supplementing this request, Mr. Adams asked that tho whole area at present wasted bo offered for settlement. "It would make very nice dairy farms," he said.

Mr. McMorrin said the area had originally been set aside as a grazing area for Hauraki Plains farmers. The need for this, however, had possibly passed. Question of Suitability.

Tho Minister said he inclined to the view that tho area should be more thoroughly grazed and consolidated before it was offered for settlement. If, however, his departmental heads accepted the view of tho deputation that the area was fitted for immediato settlement, ho would be glad to offer it for selection at once. A request that tho Government clear the Waitakaruru Canal to enable it to carry a greater volume of water, which otherwise would be distributed over adjacent farms, was made by Mr. C. Ilayward. Mr. McMorrin estimated the cost of this work at £7OOO.

Mr. Forbes said it was perfectly obvious that the enlargement of the canal would greatly benefit the adjoining settlers. The question at issue, however, was wholly one of allocation of cost. As it was tho party with tho larger interest, he thought the Crown should bear the major portion. " I can see that this request should bo carefully considered," 110 said, " and I shall see that the decision of my department shall not be delavod."

Mr. J. Poland asked for financial assistance in the metalling of 70 chains of the Pouarua Road.

Mr. C. W. Parfitt, of the Hauraki Plains County Council, intimated that the council was prepared to metal the road on a subsidy basis, pound for pound. Reasonable Expectation.

The Minister said that as the council was prepared to shoulder its share of the cost it was reasonable to expect a responsive measure of assistance from the Government. When the Minister arrived at Kgatea he was welcomed by Mr. E. L. Walton, chairman of (he Hauraki Plains County Council. The first deputation was headed by Mr. C. W. Parfitt, chairman of the Hauraki West Drainage Board, who said that on the formation of the board a year ago the then Minister of Lands had undertaken to furnish subsidies for important works on a graduating scale. He asked that this promise be honoured bv the new Government. Mr. Forbes said he could assure them that any undertaking entered into with a previous Government in such matters would certainly be honoured and respected by him as far as his particular department was concerned. Another deputation requested the erection of a temporary stopbank to prevent the flooding of farms bordering on the Pouarua Road. Mr. Parfitt said 2000 acres of good land would be saved from flooding this winter by the erection of a temporary stopbank, pending the completion of the department's scheme, which would be inoperative as far as the Pouarua Road settlers were concerned for a long time. The Minister intimated that, after viewing the area, ho held grave misgivings as to the value of a temporary bank in peat country. Although unfavourably disposed to the request, ho would submit it ,to his officers, and they would try to find a way of affording relief to the affected settlers.