THE TAIHOA HANDICAP.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1344, 23 January 1912, Page 4

THE TAIHOA HANDICAP.

: HOW THE ICING COUNTRY IS KHI'T BACK. [13j Telegraph.—Special Corresnondent.l Auckland, January 22. The greatness of the resources of the King Country and the extent of the handicaps under which it is labouring were strongly impressed upon Mr. G. J. Garland during a five days' visit lust work, in his capacity of chairman of the Auckland Heard of Kdwation. As mi instance of the growth of the district, Mr. Garland mentioned, in an interview, the case of a new school in the far south of the area, under the jurisdiction of the j Auckland Board. School buildings had just been completed to accommodate 70 children, and arrangements had been made to open the school oil February 5. To his astonishment lie was informed that the building was not large enough, as there would be 109 children present on the opening day. That was an illustration of the marvellous growth of the vast magnificent stretch of country lying east; west, and north of Lalto Taupo, but the visitor journeying from settlement to settlement was continually aware of a despondent note that prevailed from end to end of the district. The settlers were crying out for a settled land tenure. They felt themselves to be in the grip of an aristocracy that threatened their cxistcnco, and they were demanding the privilege, of every British subject, the right to acquire the freehold'of their land, which was bcins made of value to the nation by the efforts of tho men settled upon it. The King Country, said Mr. Garland, is languishing under the fell disease, "tailioaism," and its associate Maori landlordism. Yet there was a marvellous increase in the district. The land was naturally qualified to carry an immense population, and even the rough country might be brought into usefulness fqr shwp-growing. There were wide stretchts of land lying idle which should be carrying thousands of cattle to the benefit of the province. "Tho King Country possesses advantages that are unknown except to those who live among them or who observe them with seeing eyes," [ added Mr. Garland, "I hope to see it one of tho great factors in the upbuilding of | this splendid nation, of which it is one 1 of the finest assets."