MINISTERIAL VISIT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 47, 11 March 1937, Page 3

MINISTERIAL VISIT

Our Own Correspondent)

Wairoa Deputations

(From

WAIROA, Last Night. The Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone, arrived in Wairoa from Wellington, via Napier, last evening, accompanied by his private secretary, Mr A. W. Mulligan, Mr W. Eober'tson, Under-Secretary for Lands, Mr O. N. Campbell, Under-Secretary for the Native Department. Mr D. W. Coleman, member for the Gisborne electorate, met the Minister on arrival. Mr A. G. Nolan, Wairoa county chairman, mentioned several rating matters connected with Kakariki station, owned by the Government. Mr Nolan stated that it seemed unfair that the people . farming alongside this property should bear a burden of rates not borne by the Government property. . Mr Langstone replied that where the Government had taken land which had previously been paying rates it would endeavour to make some adjustment as it was only a reasonable thing that the local body should receive some consideration in the matter of revenue, which was necessary for the purpose of carrying on .the services being rendered to the community. Mr P. J. O'Kane, for the Wairoa Farmers' Union, brought before Mr Langstone the urgent question of closer settlement in the Wairoa district. Mr O'Kane, in instancing several properties which would be suitable for closer settlement, said that in one case as many as 20 other families could ,be aecommodated witbout seriously affecting the income of the present owner. Mr Gemmell supported the request made by Mr O'Kane and suggested that the Minister should get a competent engineer to make a survey of the Whakaki area with a view to having the lake drained and the land developed. In replying to the deputation, Mr Langstone stated that his Government was indeed interested in the matter of closer land settlement, and he suggested that the owners of the properties should submit their properties to the Government, putting their prices on and making a straight out offer that might be aeted upon. Mr Langstone Stated that his department certainly would do all it could to help the projeet of closer settlement in the district. The problem of farmers in obtaining adequate farm labour was also mentioned by Mr O'Kane who suggested that the Government might help in the matter of arranging suitable accommodation as an inducement to farm labourers by grahting loans for such buildings at a low rate of interest spread over a long period. Mr Langstone said that up to the present the Government had been very busy on other business and had not had the time to go into the diffieulties of the farmers in detail. However, the matter of acconimodation was a vital one in connection with employment of farm labour, and at present was recoiving the consideration of his Government. Mr S. Ashburn, of the Chambcr of Commerce, brouglit to Mr Langstone 's notiee the matter of arranging suitable faeilities for invalids visiting the Morere baths. Mr Langstone stated that he would be visiting Morere and would look into the matter, and, where possible, would do what he could to improve the facilities. For the Wairoa Power Board, Mr J. Corkil'i brought "before the Minister the urgent nccessity of the Government doing something in connection with tho drainage of the Whakaki area. Mr Langstone promisod to look into the matter and give the question iserious consideration.