WAIKERIA ESTATE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4064, 24 June 1938, Page 5

WAIKERIA ESTATE

DESIRE FOR SUB-DIVISION. MINISTER ASKED TO RE-CON-SIDER. The Hon. Frank Langstone, Minister of Lands, writing to yesterday’s meeting of Te Awamutu branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union re the branch’s request that a further part of the Waikeria Borstal property should be made available for closer settlement, advised that he had carefully looked into the representations made, and found that the Prisons Department required all the land in the estate for the use of the institution. It was therefore not possible to make a further portion of 1 the area available for settlement purposes. * The chairman, Mr D. H. Cavers, commented that it was a pity firstclass land should be allowed to grow broom, and remain unfenced. The Government had declared its policy to have all the land used productively, and part of Waikeria was very suitable for that purpose. If the prison authorities would not use all its land, private individuals should be allowed to use it. It was stated that the Crown Lands Department would probably make available an area of the Waikeria property along the Ngahape Road. This remark created surprised comment, and the chairman said that the Union had no information on that point.

It was decided to reply to the Minister asking that further consideration be given to the desirability for development of the area along the Ngahape R*oad x including the unimproved portion of Waikeria, by making it available for settlement. Mr A. S. Wyllie said the Minister when interviewed last month, had indicated that possibly the unused portion of the estate could be made available.

Mr Cavers said the unimproved portion comprised only 190 acres. Another member said he had been informed that Waikeria was now a payable institution, due to the returns from dairying, fruit and vegetablegrowing, etc. It was claimed that there was more land in the estate than the authorities could use profitably. It should be made available for settlement, and thus the local bodies would benefit by way of rates. Mr C. Old stated that the land along the Ngahape Road was cleared nearly sixteen years ago, and nevei' used, the result being that it had reverted to a broom-covered area infested with noxious pests. It -was by no means helpful to the district, and no credit to the authorities.