OPENING UP THE LAND

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10541, 18 March 1920, Page 4

OPENING UP THE LAND

STATEMENT BY MINISTER,

FOUR PRESSING HROBLEMS. Tho Minister for Lands, the Hon,, D. H. Guthrie, was recently ontertnined by King Country Local Bodies in Te Kuiti. and in the course of a reply to tho toast of his health said that when he accepted the portfolio of Lands he did so with a good deal»of temerity, as he realised that with the termination of the war the position would Ibe one of enormous responsibility. Once having accepted tho position, however, !S» felt that it was his duty to visit all parts of New Zealand so as to familiarise himself with tho particulars and special characteristics of each district. Unless he did this he was firmly convinced _ that he could not hope to discharge his duties properly. In fact the responsibilities of the 'Department were never greater than at the present time, and that was the reason why he was anxious to do his utmost to qualify himself in all respects. .. There were four problems that stood out with, special prominence for the Department to deal with. The first problem was to bring in as much ot the undeveloped )and as possible into a. state of productivity. This was of primary'importance. The second problem was how to deal with the waste lands. Comparative.ly speaking, there was a very small proportion of undeveloped land that he would designate waste land, but still, it wes a matter that would need a lot of oarefuj consideration. The third problem was tho hundreds of thousands of acres of dry lands that had yet to be dealt with bo as to 'bring them into profit. Tho fourth and last problem concerned the wot areas which he regarded as a wonderfully rich asset for the future. In fact very few people realised the enormous possibilities of these areas. ■