MINISTER OF LANDS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19269, 10 March 1937, Page 4

MINISTER OF LANDS

TOUR OF EAST COAST

VISIT TO WAIROA

DEPUTATIONISTS’ WANTS

(Special to the Herald.)

WAIROA. this day

The Minister of Lands, tlie Hon. I*. Langstone, arrived in Wairoa from Wellington, via Napier, last evening, accompanied by his private secretary, Mr. A. \V. Mulligan, Mr. W. Robertson, Undersecretary for Lands, Mr. Q. N. Campbell. Under-Secretary for the Native De pnrtment. Mr. I). W. Coleman, inembei for the Gisborne electorate, met the Minister on arrival.

Mr. Langistone was introduced to a representative meeting by Mr. M. J. Gemmell, Deputy-Mayor of Wairoa. On behalf of the Wairoa County Council. Mr. A. G. Nolan, county chairman, mentioned several rating matters connected with Kakariki station, owned by the Government. Mr. Nolan stated that it seemed unfair that the people farming alongside this property should bear a burden of rates not borne by the Government property.

Mr. Langstone replied that where the Government had taken land which had previously been paying) rates it would endeavour to make some adjustment as it was only a reasonable thing that the local body should receive some consideration in the matter of revenue, which was necessary for the purpose of carrying on the services being rendered to the community. CLOSER SETTLEMENT

Speaking on behalf of the Wairoa branch of the Farmers’ Union, Mr. P. J. O’Kane brought before Mr. Langstone the urgent question of closer settlement in the Wairoa. district. Mr. O’Kane,, in instancing several properties which would lie suitable for closer settlement, said that in one case as many as 20 other families could be accommodated without seriously affecting) the income of the present owner. Mr. Gemmell supported the request made bv Mr. O’Kane and suggested that the Minister should get a competent engineer to make a survey_ ol the Whakaki area with a view to having the lake drained and the land developed.

Jn replying to the deputation, Mr. Langstone stated that Ins Government was indeed interested in the matter of closer land settlement, and he suggested that the owners of the properties should submit their properties to the Government, putting their prices on and making a straight out offer that might be acted upon. Mr. Langstone stated that his department certainly would do all it could to help the project of closer settlement in the district.

Mr. O’Kanc brought before the Minister the matter of acquiring a holding paddock on the Tiniroto-Gisborne road. Mr. Langstone asked that the Farmers’ Union should communicate with the Linds Department suggesting suitable paddocks and it might be possible for the matter to be settled satisfactorily in a short time. FARM LABOUR PROBLEM

The problem of local farmers in obtaining adequate farm labour also was mentioned by Mr. O’Kane. The speaker suggested that possibly the Government might help in the matter of arranging suitable accommodation as an inducement, to farm labourers by granting loans for such buildings at a low rate of interest spread over a long period. Mr. Langistone said that up to the present the Government had been very busy on other business and had not bad the time to go into the difficulties of the farmers in detail. However, the matter of accommodation was u vital one in connection with employment of farm labour, and tit present was receiving the consideration of his Government.

The town clerk, Air. H. H. O’Loughlen, brought before the Minister the difficulties connected with the Impounding Act, and the fact that the Crown was not bound by the Act. Mr. S, Ashburn, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, brought to Mr. Langstone’s notice the matter of arranging suitable facilities for invalids visiting the Morcre baths. Mr. Langstone stated that he would be visiting Morere and would look into the matter, and, where possible, would do wliat he could to improve the facilities. WHAKAKI DRAINAGE

On behalf of the Wairoa Power Board, Mr. J. Corkill brought before the Minister the urgent necessity of the Government doing something in connection with the drainage of the Whakaki area. Mr. 1). D. Prvde, in sunporting Air. Corkill, stressed the difficulty of the Whakaki Drainage Board in dealing with tho matter owing to the lack of finance, due to the fact that the area was largely native properly and at present it was almost impossible to collect the rates on this land. Air. J. AI. Taylor also spoke on behalf of the farmers in the locality, and stressed the fact that if this area could be satisfactorily drained, the production would be more than doubled. Mr. Langstone promised to look into the matter and give the question serious consideration.

At the close of the deputations, Air. Coleman thanked the Alinister for his visit, the deputationists for the way in which they had put, forward their requests, anil the Alinister for his replies. The deputy-Alayor endorsed Air. Coleman’s remarksexpressing his own pleasure at the result of the gathering. The Alinister in his reply said that lie was very pleased with the appearance of the country, and if he could do anything to advance its material interests lie would gladly do so. After hearing one private deputation, the Alinister and party were socially entertained along with a number of

'ailing settlers by the deputy-Alayor, in the unavoidable absence of the Mayor, Afr. 11. L. Darker.

The Alinister left at 9 a.m. to-day for Gisborne, via the inland highway, and on his return via the other route will inspect the Aforere baths' and Whakaki lagoon.

The meeting was remarkable for the few requests made, their moderate nature, and the ability displayed in presenting (bom. Air. P. J. O’Kano was an outstanding example, and throughout the gathering there was a. total absence of any criticism.