SCOPE FOR SETTLEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20426, 30 November 1929, Page 14

SCOPE FOR SETTLEMENT.

THE RANGITAIKI VALLEY.

ADVOCACY BY MINISTER.

AID FOR ROAD TO GALATEA.

[BY telegraph.—own correspondent.] WHAKATANE, Friday.

Advantage was taken of the presence in Whakatane yesterday of Sir Apirana Ngata, Minister of Native Affairs, to endeavour to enlist' his support for the completion by the Government of tlio To Tcko-Waiohou Road' to link up Galatea with the Whakatane district.

Mr. Walter Reid, county chairman, explained that about £IO,OOO had been spent in road formation and the expenditure of another £4OOO would complete tho road to Waiohou. Tho council raised a loan of £3500 over the Galatea area and that had received a £1 for £1 Government subsidy. Later a free grant of £2200 had been given,. but that money had been spent, and the workmen had gone off tho contract.

Tho Government was now prepared to subsidise the cost of completing tho work at the rate of £2 for £l, but the ratepayers concerned were already loaded to the limit, and the council had no means of finding tho required money to take up tho subsidy. Mr. Reid thought it might be possible to put relief workers on to complete the road, which would bo a great benefit to European and native land settlement in the locality. The Minister, in reply, said he was pleased the matter of completing a road to Galatea had been brought before him. Last year half tho Cabinet Ministers had spent a lot of time exploring the pumice land with a view to settlement purposes. He had gono to Murupara ana formed the opinion that the best land was there in the Rangitaiki Valley. The outlet fo»all that country was down the Rangitaiki to tho East Coast railway. It was not practicable to take the produce tho other way, on account of the steep grades. There was a lot of land there suitable for settlement and lie would advise the deputation to associate land settlement with their agitation for tho Galatea Road. Uio Government was prepared to take land for settlement purposes and there were greater possibilities in the Rangitaiki Valley than in the so-called pumice lands area. He would bring the matter before the Minister concerned, particularly the question of land settlement in that locality.

Mr. C. E. Macrnillap, M.P., said he had advocated the development of lands along the East Coast railway to help to make tho line pay. He had also taken up the question of the Galatea Road on behalf of lho Whakatane County Council and the Chamber of Commerce. There were thousands of acres of land along tho coast which only required roading to fit it for settlement. Ho was pleased to hear the Minister's views on tho matter coincided with those of the people of the district.