ROOM FOR MANY MORE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 665, 17 May 1929, Page 10

ROOM FOR MANY MORE

CLOSER SETTLEMENT OF KING COUNTRY URGED CONFERENCE AT TE KUITI ■ (From Our Own Correspondent) TE KUITI, Thursday. “No district in New Zealand can offer better opportunities for future settlement than ours,” said Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., Mayor of Te Kuiti, speaking at an important conference at Te Kuiti last evening convened by the King Country Advancement League to consider the question of land settlement along the Main Trunk line. The following local bodies were represented: Waitomo County Council. Messrs. R. Were and L. R. Jones; Te Kuiti Borough Council, Messrs. Broadfoot, A. Blackman, T. Carroll. V. Lorigan: Waitomo Power Board, Mr. J. N. Boddie; Mairoa Settlers’ Association. Mr. J. Francis; Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce, Messrs. S. R. Craig, J. C. Rolleston, D. Cooper, G. Hitchcock; Otorohanga Chamber of Commerce. Mr. H. W. Atkinson; Otorohanga County Council, Messrs. S. Fortescue and F. Potts; Otorohanga branch of the Farmers’ Union, Y. Simms: Otorohanga Town Board, Messrs. A. Mcßeadv and F. Phillips; Taumarunui Borough Council, Mr. C. Boles; Ongarue Vigilance Committee, Messrs. C. Otto and S. Knight; Tangitu Settlers’ Association. Mr. C. E. Middleton; Marakopa 1 Farmers’ Union. Mr. R. Milne: Kawhia South Co-operative Dairy Co., Mr. G. Derecourt; Piopio Dairy Co., ’ Messrs! P. Wall and N. Early; Otorohanga A. and F. Association, Messrs. R. Cowern and W. McAdam; Waimarino County, Messrs. C. Hall and A. Maddock; Te Awamutu branch of the Farmers’ Union. Mr. Wynyard; Waipa County Council, Messrs. S. Mac Kay and W. McGee; Te Awamutu Borough and Chamber of Commerce, Mr. C. Downes: Waitomo Licensing Committee, Mr. P. Smyth; Te Awamutu Power Board! Mr. N. Lethbridge: Arapae Rabbit Board, Mr. A. P. Grey; Te Awamutu Borough Council and Te Awamutu Dairy Company, Mr. G. Findlay: Wairere Power Board, Mr. E. Tolme: Rangitoto Settlers’ Association, Messrs A. Sutherland. L. Andrew, and O. French; Taumarunui Chamber of Commerce, Mr. A. H. Laird: Kaitieke County Council, Mr. T. Crocker; Ohuru County Council, Mr. F. Romaj'ne; Mairoa and Waitanguru Settlers’ Association, Mr. H. Y oyce. Apologies for absence were received from the Manunui Town Board, Raetihi Chamber of Commerce, Waimarino County Council, and Ohakune branch of the Farmers' Union. Mr. H. T. Morton, president of the King Country Advancement League presided, and, in welcoming the delegates, said it was a li.-a.ithy sign to se f suc h a representative meeting. Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., said that at last all sections of the communitwere realising the importance of settlement, and the need to make more .and available. three great assets < We have from Te Awamutu to Taii nape three great assets,” said Mr. | Broadfoot. "A good and proven soil. a oounteous rainfall, a.nd much sun- ! ®5?? ne » an< l these*, added to modern fer- ! make the possibilities of our I district almost unbounded.” Continuing, the speaker said the: i had running through their territory the Mam Trunk railway, and radiating nom this were metalled roads, hydroelectric schemes, well established schools, hospitals, and other facilitis .necessary to i-nahk - tt'emont to beseem© attractive anti successful- Un-

fortunately. these facilities were not j being utilised to the full, as there tvece j too many vacant spaces. If thes* | spaces were filled with settlers, proJ vided with cheap and readily available finance, they would improve their places, and the increased production would astound New Zealand. A large number of resolutions dealing with the land settlement question ! were then passed, along with the fol- | lowing, moved by Mr. S. Craig: “That a del?gation comprising one. and where possible two members of the various bodies represented at this conference, j wait on the Prime Minister and place the resolutions before him.” In reply to a question, Mr. Broadfodt j stated that he had been authorised to announce that he had been advised ! to set up honorary advisory committees in respect of lands, whether improved or unimproved, and this he tiroposed to do in the near future in etery locality. GOVERNMENT URGED TO BUY AREAS IN WANGANUI DISTRICT SELLERS WANT BIG PRICE (From Our Own Corespondent) WANGANUI, Today. The question of closer settlement is ; now engaging serious attention, and as | there are very large areas in Wangaj nui and Main Trunk districts capable ( of subdivision, efforts are being made | to induce the Government to secure ; these holdings for settlement purposes# The Taihape Settlement League has approached the Commissioner of Crown Lands with a view to securing a block | of 900 acres at Omatane, but the commissioner, replying, said that the only area the department is opening selection in the vicinity of Taihape was the subdivision of the Raketapauma run at Hihitahi. Mr. J. T. Hogan. M.P. for Rangitikei, is taking some action, but be says that he is fully aware of the difficulties in connection with closer settlement. Most people on the land did not desire to sell their holdings, and to be induced to do so they desired exorbitant prices. Taxation would reduce prices, and this would probably ruin most people in the process. Taxation was a matter tor Parliament. No doubt when the House met a distinct step forward would be J taken in the direction of breaking up the big estates. t Two Mataroa farmers state tha ; they are prepared to offer their • to the Government for closer ; ment. These two offers are to R -' placed before the Land PurchaM Board. —i