Land Development

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 147, 17 March 1939, Page 11

Land Development

Sir.—-Mr. Semple is reported as having said “The fact of land going out of use causes suffering to the nation tli rough lack of production.” He goes oil to elaborate how the progress of the country depends upon the brains, skill and hands of the people. A few days previously, while in the Gisborne district, he is reported to have said that the Government would not let people into Crown bush for the purpose of getting quick returns and then abandoning the laud after they had ruined it for production purposes. These statements are undoubtedly the result of “excitement at the moment,” iu view of the fact that the present Government has allowed a foreign mining concern mining rights over some hundreds of acres of dairying land on the West Coast of the South Island. One member of the Ministry stated iu reply to a question in the House that the land was useless; whereas the area comprises some nine dairy farms that carry a cow to two acres. The land is being churned up into hillocks of boulders some 30 feet high. What for? A miserable 12/an ounce as far as New Zealand is concerned. At present about £l2O a week. It is estimated that the dredge has 12 years’ work ahead: at the end of that time there will be hundreds of acres of land absolutely wasted and useless. Land that would have gone on producing for generations to come. —I am, etc., PRO PATRIA. March 13.