MINISTERS ON TOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21492, 16 May 1933, Page 10

MINISTERS ON TOUR

RELIEF WORK IN NORTH HON. A. HAMILTON'S VISIT DISCUSSION OF PROBLEMS [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] DATtCAVILLE, Monday In continuation of his tour of the north the Minister of Employment, Hon. A. Hamilton, arrived at Dargaville this afternoon from Russell, via Knikohe and Mangakahia Valley. The party was met at Dargaville by Mr. F. A. Jones, Mayor and chairman of tho local unemployment committee, and Mr. V. Trounson, chairman of tho Hobson County Council. After a hurried lunch the Minister motored out to the new small farm settlements in the district. The evening was spent in receiving deputations from local unemployed and conferring with tho Dargaville Unemployment Committee in respect of operations in the district. At Kaikohe the Minister was met by the chairman of tho Town Board and the unemployment committee, who explained that the chief problem in tho district was that about 60 per cent of the registered unemployed were nativej, most of whom owned, or partly owned, fairly good land which, if the titles wore individualised, would provide them with a living. Men on Small Farms Mr. Hamilton said the Unemployment Board was at present negotiating with the Minister of Native Affairs regarding tho possibility of instituting a better system than No. 5 scheme for the relief of natives, and if better arrangements could bo mado they would in all probability apply to natives in North Auckland. The committee inquired also as to the possibility of assisting men on small farms who were having difficulty in getting the necessities of life.

Tho Minister said that while any portion of tho earnings of a farm was being paid to the landlord or mortgagee it was difficult for the Unemployment Board to give relief. Tho first duty of a landlord or mortgagee, if a tenant was allowed to remain on tho land, was to see that he was reasonably provided with sufficient food supplies. New Settlers at Te Kopuru In the afternoon the Minister visited Bassott's subdivision, To Kopuru, where 10 settlers hare been placed under the settlement scheme on 50-acre sections. Mr. Hamilton said tho area was certainly a wise choico and a groat amount of work had been done in a short time. Provided the right men were selected and would put their backs into their work no doubt they would become self-supporting. As a measure for the relief of unemployment tho scheme was rather ambitious, but it was excellent from tho point of view of land settlement. Tho Minister also visited the unemployment relief camp at Awakino Point, near Dargavillo and inspected tho drainage works upon which the men are engaged. Ho commented that tho work was being excellently done. During the tour the Minister has found a good spirit prevailing and that the unemployed aro accepting the position philosophically, > hoping that conditions will improve in tho near future. Tho ministerial party will leave for Auckland, via Maungaturoto, in the morning, calling at Paparoa to confer with the Otamatea Unemployment Committeo and at Matakohe. AREAS NEAR ROTORUA MR. RANSOM'S ITINERARY [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] WELLINGTON, Monday Arrangements for a visit to the Rotorua district by the Minister of Lands, tho Hon. E. A. Ransom, were finalised to-day. Mr. Ransom will leave Wellington by the afternoon Main Trunk express on Friday, and will reach Rotorua the following day. Mr. Ransom will remain in Rotorua on Sunday, and on Monday will visit the Waihi swamp in tho morning, and after an inspection of tho area will meet settlers at Wood's mill in the afternoon, returning to Rotorua later in tho day. On Tuesday ho intends to visit the Oncpu settlement, and from there will go to Galatea, via the Rangitaiki Valley Road. Ho will return to Rotorua for tho evening. A visit will be paid to Ngakura on the morning of Wednesday, and in tho afternoon the Minister will attend tho Rotorua Show. Ho will leave Rotorua in the.late afternoon to enable him to connect with the south-bound limited express at Frankton Junction. On Thursday and Friday, May 25 and 26, Mr. Ransom will be at Palmerston North for a conference with slieepbreeders at Massey Agricultural College. Mr. Ransom will spend tho weekend at his home at Dannevirko, and is due back in Wellington on May '29. On part of Ms tour Mr. Ransom will bo accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. 0. K. Macmillan. Mr. Macraillan will open tho Whakatano Show to-morrow. Ho will be in the Bay of Plenty district for some days, and intends to accompany Mr. Ransom on his vi?'\ to tho Waihi swamp area.