THE WAY OUT

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1931, Page 5

THE WAY OUT

ORGANISATION AND EFFORT. It is by the efforts of the commun-' ity as a whole, and by the efforts of the men and women on the land in particular, that the economic difficulties besetting the Dominion at the present time will be ultimately overcome. The politicians may do their best, as they doubtless will, to restore the equilibrium of the country’s affairs, but without sustained co-operat-ion from all sections of workers, whether by hand or by head, the process of resuscitation will be both tedious and exacting. With this grave problem yet only on the threshold of solution it is lefreshing to find a representative of the “New Zealand Herald”, the foremost supporter of His Majesty’s Opposition in the present Parliament, ■ warmly extolling the good work being done by the United Government to--wards the extension of the, effective settlement which' must ultimately contribute largely to • the salvation of the country.

“Never before in the history of the Auckland Province,” this high authority says, “has there been such marked activity in the settlement and improvement of the great pumice area as at the present time. From Okoroiro to Putaruru, From Putaruru to.Rotonia, from Rotorua across to the. borders of the Urewera Country, the scrub and the fern, once the main growth of the soil, has given way in places to pastures and crops, . -With the experience and example of the settlers who have already effected these changes there is every reason to believe that, the vast areas still in their native state will show the same desirable change and will fully justify the settlement policy of the present Minister of Lands (the Hon. E. A. Ransom) and the 1 magnificent plans of Sir Apirana- Ngata, who sees in these parts great scope, for Maori farmers and great hope for the profitable occupation of Maori lands. R The representative of the “Herald” touches briefly upon other features of pumice lands he visitqd. He emphasises, however, the, fact that twelve months ago the .Ngakuru demonstration farm was,little.more .than a patch of manuka and monod .scrub. In . the coming spring it. is, to .be * uqedvasGadairy farm. “To look at...it'to-day”, we are told,, “oue would imagine Ahat the grass had been laid , down for years on naturally y fertile soil, "The pasture i t s perfectly clear, and the sward already dense and thick. ’'lt could be fully grazed- at any 'time and would carry a large amount of stock.” ‘ The lalatea Estate, purchased by, .the Government but a little time' ago, is being roaded and sub-divided for early settlement and promising to be as fruitful as the Cheviot Estate which, thirty-odd years ago, set George Forbes dreaming of the Premiership, 1