A VISIT TO NEWLINGS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1092, 3 April 1911, Page 9

A VISIT TO NEWLINGS.

TIIKEE KSSE.XTIALS 01" SUCCESS. Considerable dissatisfaction has existed for some time among the people of the Newlings Settlement (near JohnsonvilkO in respect to applications for loans made to thu Advances to Settlers Department. The matter was recently brought under the notice of Mr. J. W. Poynton, Superintendent of the Board, by Mr. J. P. Luke, M..P. for tha district, by means ot a deputation of .some twenty residents, together with representatives of the sottlers on the adjacent Hawlrey Estate and Paparangi Settlement. After hearing what the deputation had to say, Mr. Poynton accepted the invitation of Mr. Luke to accompany him on a visit to the locality. This visit was made on Saturday. On arrival, most of the male residents met. the visitors, and accompanied them over (he settlement. AVhile there they were shown the excellent section of two" acres of land which had been donated by J!rs.' Murphy for the purposes of a school. After inspecting the locality, the visitors were entertained at afternoon tea provided and dispensed by the ladies of tho district. A very pleasant time was spent, , and the ladies were presented with bouquets, testifying to the quality of the soil and the mildness of tho climate of the district. Before tho visitors. left Mr. Luke said that three essentials were'needed to make a new' settlement a. success. First, that tho desire of neiy settlers should bo to make the. conditions superior to those which existed in congested areas of the city by waking congenial homes and pleasant surroundings to them, and at the same time to cultivate a good healthy sociable spirit one- ■ towards the other. Secondly, that the area to be settled should offer inducements by its suitability, easy approach, and room for expansion, so as to attract peoplo from tho. city to suburban homes in the locality. While they missed many of tho conveniences of city life they should be compensated for by a brighter; more open'outlook, : and healthier surroundings. Thirdly, it was necessary that those who had charge of the great lending department of; tho Government. should have an earnest desire to' help forward the settlement of suitable areas of land by those whose work was connected with industrial enterprises. The speaker was convinced that theso three elements were present that day. They had the peopli; on the land, sintl he was sure that iu Mr. Poynton, as head of the Advances to Settlers Department, they had one whose heart was with them, ami if proper security was offerad the Department would give claims every consideration. Mr. Poynton said that there wns no work in connection with the Government, of the country vrhinh called for greater consideration and care -than that of tho. Advances to Settlers Department. . Ho was associated, with h'vo other colleagues' in dealing with/applications for loans and the suitability of the securities offered, nntl he could say that at all times the Department did its duty with cars and with a due regard for the borrowers of small amounts for the acquirement of homos. He illustrated the activity of tho Department by quotim? that up to tho present about .£12,000,000 had been distributed throughout the country. He was interested and impressed with what ho had seen that afternoon, mid was pleased that he had visited the district, as he was now in a position to estimate the possibilities of settlement in-the district. In conclusion, he stated that the proposed n;w road could bo financed by tho Department if the settlers put themselves in a proper legal position for separate rating. . ' Before the gathering dispersed, Jlr. Luke read a letter from (he Education Board, in reply to representations he had' made, stating "that the board was- abput to mako areqitisitioiito (he Department for funds for tho erection of a new school on the sits presented by Mrs. Murphy.