THE HON. H. D. BELL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1716, 5 April 1913, Page 5

THE HON. H. D. BELL.

' WHANGAREI DEPUTATIONS. 1 (By/Telegraph;—?resa Association.) ' ' Whangarei, April 4. i The Hon. H. D. Bell, Minister for In'ternal Affairs, arrived 1 in Whangarei this ' ;"eveiurig."... Ho- received . deputations toknight, •the being, a request for • Government assistance in providing grass • seed'for those • settler,3 who suffered so ' heavily from tho recent grass fires, many 'being unable to. finance the sowing of . .grass seed. Probably it: would cost i 20,000 to <£30,000 for> the district. The appeal . 'was made specially-'on.,behalf of those settlers who .were uneible to finance and in consequenco Ivavo to Ist thoir land "lie. ' ' .The Minister • replied that tho request was the most reasonable he had heard " for; many" years, .indrho would mako ieV. presentations-to Mr. Masscy, who would ■undoubtedly do his utmost, as many areas "'of: CTown > lands -were "affected, and also "'tin account of the' advisability of combatting the growth of fern. It was also necessary to assist, the dairying industry, which "•. was the•: principal, oiio. in . the north ol Auckland.. • ■ , ■ ~ . ■■•One speaker estimated that, the three - dairy; factories operating, in'the district would distribute froia JIO.OOO t0..£10,00C ; less than for the' corresponding period last year on account of the fires.. , ,'ilr. Jlander,' MvPij' that a 'visit .fe-rf the wai i ship''New'isjealand r !b6 ! tnad6 k ' Russell on .account of the historic im- « por.tance of the place. The .Minister replied that it would'not> be possible ,tc make any promises,, as further itinerary ar- '' rangements would be mado when, the ship ■ arrived in Wellington..