LAND SETTLEMENT

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 45, 17 November 1926, Page 4

LAND SETTLEMENT

CONFERENCE IN AUCK- . LAND BY Telegraph.—Press association. Auckland, November 16. An important conference ou land settlement was held to-night, Sir Andrew Russell presiding. The Hons. A. D. McLeod, O. J. Hawken, and J. A. Young were present, also Sir James Allen, Mr. J. B. Thompson (Under-Secretary for Lands), Dr. Reakca (Director-General of Agriculture), and numerous farmers. There were thirty or forty speeches. The following resolution was c»fried: “That this meeting considers a board of inquiry, with power to call evidence, should be set up forthwith to ascertain the conditions that are preventing the profitable occupation of land already in occupation, and retarding the settle ment of the undeveloped lauds of New Zealand, with a view t» their removal.’’ A good deal of discussion took place regarding the course of action, a proposal to set up a Dominion committee being eventually dropped on the ground of expense. It was then proposed that the Government’s attention be directed to the problems of land settlement and the financial burdens of the farmer, and that the Farmers’ Union and Royal Agricultural Society be asked to take charge of the matter. Mr. McLeod intervened to say that the Government would welcome an inquiry into land settlement, but it could not have a large and expensive committee travelling about the country. It would gladly accept suggestions for the personnel of the committee of inquiry, but the nominees must be representative farmers, and the Government must have (ho right to make its own appointments as well. „ . , . The new proposal was earned. A committee consisting of Messrs. C. C. Munro, W G. Gribble, W. J. Broadfoot. Edwin Harding, C. Belcher (Elthnni), M.'G. McArthur, and A. A. Ross was set up to wait on the Royal Agricultural Society and the Farmers’ Union in the next few days.