AROHEHA SETTLEMENT

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3823, 19 October 1936, Page 5

AROHEHA SETTLEMENT

MINISTER’S SOLUTION OF PROBLEMS. CONTROLLING RAGWORT MENACE. If there is one part of the Te Awamutu hinterland more than another that has suffered by the prolific growth oi ragwort on occupied lands it is the area comprising the Arohena and Ngaroma districts, where land became so badly infested that many occupiers (most of them tenants) were either forced off their lands or were so impoverished and disheartened as to be “merely existing/’ with very little hope of ever establishing themselves in accordance with the high hopes they held when taking up the land. Representations have been frequently made to the Government for some form of reliet, and from time to time one or other concession was made. But the problem was never faced boldly, until now there seems a prospect that success is not so far oli. The Hon. Frank Langstone, Minister ot Lands, has made an important statement in a letter to Mr W. J. Eroadfoot, M.P. for Waitomo, who has been indefatigable in his representations on behalf of the settlers in the districts referred to. The Minister writes: “Referring to your letter of July 21st, addressed to the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, I have now to advise you that the Land Board has recently made exhaustive inquiries into the Arohena settlement, and as the result ot such in quiries I have approved of the following: recommendations: (X) That the three sections coloured' blue on the photostat be handed over to the Department’s officer in charge of small farms, Mr Jordan, for stock control, the cost of the stock, lick boxes and limonite to be debited to “stock crushing account, small farms.” This is essential to control the ragwort menace. (b) That in every case where the department holds the security, additional money to be found for extra stock, lick boxes and limonite. ( c) That all the cast ewes from Tapuwao be transferred in small lots to the Ngaroma and Arohena blocks, and thus form the nucleus of a “licking” flock, (d) That Mr Jordan and Field Inspector McKenzie make joint reports and recommendations as to the money required for extra stock, lick boxes and limonite, and that these two officers, working in conjunction, endeavour to bring about a different state of affairs in Arohena.” Mr Langstone adds: “I trust that the outcome of these proposals will be advantageous to the settlement.”