UNDEVELOPED LAND

Opunake Times, 5 August 1947, Page 2

UNDEVELOPED LAND

EGMONT COUNTY STATE AID SOUGHT Another million, pounds butterfat every year could be produced in the Egmont County if an estimated area of 10,000 to 12,000 acres of good but undeveloped land there was brought into* production. This statement was made to the Minister of Lands, the Hon. C. E. Skinner, on Friday, by a deputation representing the Federated Farmers in Taranaki and the New Zealand Returned Services Association. The deputation waited on Mr. Skinner with the request for Government assistance in bringing the land to a state ol productivity sufficient to support exservicemen farmers. The deputation, which was introduced, by Mr. E. B. Corbett, M.P., ana supported by Mr. W. A. 'Sheat, M.P., consisted of the president of the -South Taranaki executive of the Federated Farmers, Mr. E. W. McCallum, Mr. L. G. Bickford, North Taranaki:' Mr. W. Voughan, representing the New Plymouth R.S.A. lands committee; Mr. J. S. Stronge (Opunake), chairman of a special committee set up by the Federated Farmers to survey lands needing development, and Mr. P.H. Bennett (Otaki), chairman of the lands committee of the Dominion R.S.A. Land Believed' Worthwhile The deputation amplified to the Minister details of the report of the Stronge committee, already published, relating to the utilisation of reverted and undeveloped lands in _the Egmont county. It stated that existing farms in that area showed that it was worthwhile land, and no extra roading or similar facilities were needed, for they were already there. The deputation proposed that the Government should, if possible, acquire the reverted and undeveloped lands, develop them to 50 per cent, of their productive potential and then settle on them selected returned servicemen. It was proposed that the men who were ultimately to settle on the lands should be employed on the development work, A good proportion of the land would need draining by heavy machinery, it was stated, and mention was made of a mechanical ditcher suitable for this job. The deputation suggested that much of the initial cost of breaking in the land to' grass could be recouped from the sale of crops grown on it. The Minister was assured of the complete co-operation of the Federated Farmers, the R.S.A. and other interested parties. In reply, Mr. Skinner said he would arrange for a committee of the Laud Settlement Board to meet members of the deputation in Taranaki to discuss the whole matter. He pointed out that the principles advocated by the deputation were now being given effect to in the settlement of exservicemen.

Plenty of men were already settled with rehabilitation assistance on farms producing only about half of the expected ultimate production, he added. The only development being carried out wag the amount required to give an ex-serviceman a -reasonable living from the start, and to enable him to meet mortgage commitments.