KAWHIA DEVELOPMENT

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 59, Issue 4220, 6 December 1939, Page 6

KAWHIA DEVELOPMENT

RECONDITIONING FARM LANDS. REVERTED CROWN SECURITIES., A vigpurous policy of farm land development in the Kaiwhia district is to be pursued by the Departments of Lands and Labour, according to information received by Mr W. J. Broadfoot, M.P. for Waitomo, who has been pressing the claims of Kawhia district for further development work. Mr Broadfooit, in his representations to the Minister of Labour, stressed the need for dealing with several blocks of country that he considered would lend themselves to development at comparatively small cost, bringing them to a productive stage that could not be attained by private or individual enterprise and effort. Especially did he mention a large block of land known as Taharoa, on the southern side of Kawhia Harbour, and owned by several native families. This block, he told the. Minister, iwas, regarded as one of the best for development in the whole of New Zealand, and he hoped that something would be done in the near future.

Mr Broadfoot has now received the following letter from the Hon. P. C. Webb, Minister- of Labour, which indicates the Government’s intentions:

“Further to my letter of October 30th, concerning a block of land in .the Kawhia district which you considered suitable for development, I am now advised by the Hon. Minister of Lands that there are numerous reverted Crown securities in this county, and I understand that the question of reconditioning them was recently brought to the notice of his Department by the Kawhia County Council.

“My colleague adds that instructions have been issued for a complete review of these areas in the Kawhia County by the Superintendent of Lands Settlement at Te Kuiti, and the Department’s Supervising Field Inspector for the North Island. “These officers are being asked to also . consider the particular area mentioned by you, and I am assured that the investigation will cover any areas in this particular locality which, are considered worthy of consideration.”

It is understood the officers referred to have already commenced their investigation, and the outcome will be eagerly, awaited.