WAIKERIA SUB-DIVISION

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4044, 6 May 1938, Page 5

WAIKERIA SUB-DIVISION

FARMERS’ UNION ADVOCACY. REPRESENTATIONS TO MINISTER OF LANDS. Reference was made, at yesterday’s meeting of the Te Awamutu branch of the Farmers’ Union, to the desire for a further subdivision of part of the Waikeria Borstal estate for closer settlement. Mr W. G. Neill reported that the visit to the neighbourhood a few days ago of the Hon. F. Langstone, Minister for Lands and Native Affairs, while investigating the small-farm and other land development schemes, had been availed of. With Messrs A. S. Wyllie, Onion, C. Old, and Hopping, he had met the Minister at Tokanui Crossroads, and asked for a further five handy-sized dairy farms to be made available for a closer settlement. The block under notice was, he sa : d, controlled by the Prisons Department, and the Minister held out little hope of the request being acceded to. However, Mr Langstone had undertaken to refer the representations to the proper quarter. Continuing, Mr Neill said the Minister’s attention had been directed to the block of unimproved land along the Ngahape road, and under the control of the Borstal authorities though not used. It was asked that the land be made available for closer settlement, preferably after it had been cleared by prison labour. The Minister evinced a keen interest in the subject, and the deputation was of opinion that the prospects were more favourable. The chairman said Mr Onion had directed the Minister’s attention to a block of Maori-owned land near his farm along the banks of the Puniu, and which was a continual menace to other farm lands. The Minister had expressed his keen interest, and assured the Union deputation that he would look into the matter.

To a .question, the speaker said the Minister had not made clear his attitude respecting the freehold or leasehold of any sections of the Waikeria estate that may be made available for closer settlement but he had subsequently expressed his advocacy of “utilisation” of land as a basis of occupancy.