HON. A.D. McLEOD ON PLAINS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4802, 26 January 1925, Page 3

HON. A.D. McLEOD ON PLAINS.

NUMBER OF DEPUTATIONS. Many Policy Matters. Friday’s Business.

A tour of inspection of the Hauraki Plains by the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister for Lands, was commenced on Friday and continued on Saturday and to-day. The Minister was accompanied by his private secretary, Mr O. N. Campbell, Chief Drainage Engineer, Mr W. F. Marsh, Commissioner of Crown Lands in the Soutn Auckland district, and Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P. for Thames.

The -party left Auckland at 8.30 a m,, intending to reach Waitakaruru by noon, but owing to the numerous deputations heard en route it was 1.30 p.m, before they arrived at the boundary of the county. Here they were met by members of the County Counciil and escorted to Waitakaruru, arriving about 2 o’clock. After luncheon the Minister wns welcomed to the county by Cr, J. C. Miller, county chairman.

Replying to the welcome, the Hon. Minister gave some very interesting information concerning his department. Of the 80,000 landholders in the Dominion 33,000 were tenants of or debtors to the State. Primary producers occupied 42,000,000 acres of land, and the primary products made op 97, if not 98, per cent, of the exports of the country. Last year this represented 25s per acre, and he would not be surprised if tnis year it reached 30s an acre. With stable prices he believed he would live to see the time when this figure would be doubled, for the land was capable, with subdivision, of producing very much more than at present. -It would thus be seen that the wealth of the State was its farmps—these were not wasting assets, as was mining and the forests, but assets which were bound to appreciate in value. The State ;had a duty in assisting development and everything that would increase production, but it was deploiable the amount of assistance that was expected, and w'elL'nigh demanded, from the State. He contrasted the attitude of the present-day settlers, who ran to the Government for grants for every little matter, with that of the early pioneers, who made good by their own exertions, with practically no assistance whatever. It was, he said, very demoralising, and for the good of the State, which was. of course, the people, it would have to stop.

Referring to his department, the Minister said that when he took office he was told that its alfiars were in a damnable state, and. that it was full of incompetent officers. However, he had. not condemned anything until he had found out for himself, and so far he had found in the great majority of cases that his officers were really efficient and competent men, carrying, out their duties to the best of their ability under very adverse circumstances. Only in regard to some cases of administration coul l he find fault, and these he would endeaovur to have righted at the next session of Parliament. WAITAKARURU. Five deputations were received in tHe Waitakaruru Public Hall. CANAL ROAD . y Cr. C. W. Harris, the riding representative, brought up the matter of metalling the canal road, pointing out that the settlers had teen there 10% years, and that during the winter months there was not a worse road in the county. The land had been sold at a higher price than any other in the district. The Government had given the matter favourable consideration in the past and had offered £2 to the settlers’ £l. However, the settlers were unable *:■ mdbf their share owing to the high initial cost and tjie fact that only one side of the road was rateable. In i eply to the Minister the Chief Drainage Engineer said that the cost of metalling would be about 25s a chain. The Minister said he would like to know what the rating liability would lie. In other districts settlers were paying 3d in the £ for metalling alone, aiid while he would not prejudge the case, he would not recommend more than for any other district. A basis had to be arrived at. The matter would be looked into upon his return to Wellington, and the effect ol his recommendation would he disclosed in the next Public Works 'Department votes. . A FACTORY SITE. Mr C. W. Harris then spoke of the provision of a site for a dairy factory, pointing out that a section of land at the junction of Canal Road and the main road had been reserved for the purpose, but when the N.Z. Dairy Company had made inquiries it was found that the price asked bv tlie Government w.as £l2o' an acre. The settlers were of opinion that £25 -'an acre would be a fair price, and that the department should not prejudice the advancement of the district by holding out for a greater price. The Minister at a later stage, and after having the site pointed out, observed that when -it was required it would possibly be found that the price asked would not be an inflated one. . MAIN ROAD BRIDGES. The unsafe state of the two bridges at Waitakaruru was next mentioned by Cr. Harris, who pointed out that

■ they were on the route of the main highway afnd under the control of the facilities for navigation. The Lands Drainage Engineer; Mr E Taylor, pointed out that the canal bridge was a temporary one. and that the Hon. Mr Nosworthy had stated ahat when the dredge work was comthe department would asisist in providing a permanent structur.%

and one that would meet the r.equirements of settlers in the matter of facilitise for navigation.

SOLDIER SETTLERS. Mr A. Dixon spoke of the reduction of the capital valuation of the soldief settlers' land, and asked the Minister what steps should be taken to- get a reduction in the rateable value, which in many cases was higher than the capital value. The Minister replied that the soldiers had the same recourse as civilians. By applying, the case would be decided by the Assessment Court .and a revaluation given if necessary. The department had dealt with some 4800 soldier settlers in New Zealand. He personally had had about 100 complaints, and did not know how he was going to get-over the difficulty without a general revaluation. However. he wished the soldiers to know that it. the majority of their cases the valuation board had i educed the price to below that of adjoining civilian-held land, and that numerous complaints from civilians were now being received. He would advise the soldier settlers to write to the Valuation Department for full information as to the mode of procedure. and then to take united action. Individual action was likely to cause delay, as the Assessment Board would only be called together for a number of cases. As far as he knew, a deposit of £5 was required with the application. This'would be refunded if the case wars a genuine one. PIPIROA. After conferring with several settlers on private matters the Ministerial party proceeded to Pipiroa, where several settlers spoke in private with the Minister. METALLING OF ROADS. Mr W. Scott, who drew No. 1 section in the first ballot, brought up the vexed question of the metalling of roads, and pointed out that for 15 years he and the other settlers of Moehau Road had had’ to travel in the winter , time through mud up to their horses’ girths. The public school was along the same road. The settlers had waited patiently, expecting that when the main roads were finished the by-roads would be attended to. They had paid up to £32 an acre for their land, as some of it was classed as township sections. They had expected to get some return for their money when they saw the big profit made by the department on the sale of the first ballot sections. Other by-roads had been metalled while the Pipiroa roads were neglected. The Minister pointed out that the other' by-roads referred to had been metalled by the Lands Department for its own convenience, as they were outlets from the river. It was unreasonable to expect the Government to return the profit made on the sale of one particular area, as the opening of the Plains had cost the country a huge sum. He was out to protect the rights of the State as well as the rights of individuals, and did not think that the State should bear tne whole burden. Probably if the settlers had offered to pay one-third of the cost of the road it would have been metalled. As the County Council had now taken over control, the matter was one for that body to take up with the Mniister, for Public Works. Mr E. C. Marshall pointed out that a promise had been made in the Public Hall by the Hon. Mr Massey that the roads would be metalled. The Minister said that he had caused inquiries to be made, and had not found any of Mr Massey's promises made in writing that had not been fulfilled. Mr W. Scott mentioned the posters advertising the ballot. The Minister replied that that was still a bone of contention. After further discussion the Minister promised that the five chains of road to the school would be metalled. DRAINAGE. Mr J. Knapp complained of the action of the Lands Department in removing flood-gates. Six years ago his farm was capable of carrying more stock than at present. Last winter salt water covered his farm, as the stop-banks had not been attended to for 14 years. They were attended to a few months ago. The Chief Drainage Engineer, Mr O. N. Campbell, said .that the flood-gates had been temporary ones put in before the ground was solid enough to bear concrete structures. They were now being replaced. All the floodgates on the sea coast had proved unsatisfactory owing to the amount of silting. Where the water could not easily be diverted to other outlets efforts were being made by erecting fluming to confine the current so that the silt would be washed out. In regard to the stop-banks, these had to corsolidatc before being made up to the permanent level. . AH the matters complained of were now in hand. THE WHARF. Mrs Knapp then took the Minister and showed him the state of the Pipiroa wharf, and particularly the launch steps. These were in a dangerous state, and yet had to be frequently usejd by women and children. Discussing the matter with his officers. the Minister came to the conclusion that as the department had iio further use for the Piako River wharves the logical thing to do wasto dispose of them to some local authority which could collect revenue and maintain them.

RAWERAWE FLOODING. A petition signed by 17 Rawerawe . (Continued on Page 4.)

Road settlers was presented to the Minister at the corner of that road by Mr A. Cleaver. A remission of drainage rates was asked for as it was alleged that the ham in the Wai-takaruru-Maukoro canal to raise the water level to allow the dredge to float had caused an excess quantity of water to flow down the Rawerawe roadside drain, waterlogging the adjacent farms. The Lands Drainace Ennineer explained the position by Plan And told the Minister that a_ permanent dam had been placed in the Rawerawe drain to divert the water to the canal. However, some settlers during the summer-time had asked that this dam be removed so. that .they could get water from the drain for their stock. This request had been granted on condition that the dam was replaced later on. In this instance a good job was not made, and the dam gave way, with the result that the (settlers were flooded. After some argument on the facts of the .case the Minister said that the settlers should not go to the Government every time they suffered damage by what may perhaps be termed an act of God. Ifl rates were written off there would be a deficiency in the working account of the department, and it would be only fair to make this up by a grant from the Consolidated Fund. It would be pleasing to the deputationists to have such a grant made and have their rates written off, but there were the interests of the general taxpayer to be considered In his opinion the request that the Government bear all the cost was too much; it would have been better to have asked that it be shared However, if the settleis ; would produce certified factory returns and a statement of their claims the matter would receive careful conNGATEA. ' It was after six o’clock when the party arrived at Ngatea. Several deputations had been waiting since noon, and some of these wjgre received in the council, chambers. Ais arrangement had. been made for the party .to cross the Kopu ferry at 8 p.m. it was announced that the other deputations would be heard the following afternoon. DRAINAGE. Speaking on behalf of the Ngatea branch of the N.Z. Farders’ Union, Mr J. Bratlie,: the president, dwelt at length on the requests decided upon by the settlers since the disastrous floods. He stressed the importance of more flood-gates, mentioned the ef- ‘ feet of the gaps in the stop-banks between Ngatea and Kerepeehi, and urged that the flood relief loans be made straight-out grants. In reply to the latter point the Minister said that he had .n funds at his disposal. Grants could only be made by special vote of Parliament.

The cases had been considered arid .referred to the State Advances Office, as it was hot considered that the damage suistained' Was of a permanent nature, and a loan extending over a period of years should meet the case. Later, the Minister said that he would not recommend grants in general. Every application would be treated on its' merits. Relief had been granted in some cases in the past, and relief might be granted in the cases mentioned. If claims ’£ negligence on the part of departmental officers could be reasonably substantiated they would be given serious? consideration. Mr W, G. Hayward explained the position in regard to the flooding of his property and that of his neighbours, and mentioned the returns of the present season in comparison with those of previous seasons, whereupon the Minister said that sucn serious allegations could not be ignored, and he did not intend to do so. If settlers had suffered as Mr Hayward, had stated, he could not help saying that the cases were ones for compensation. He would be glad if the settleis would supply him withs worn statements and certified factory returns, so that he could go fully into the question. THE MAUKORO CANAL. Describing it as the key to the (successful . drainage of the whole of the Hauraki Plains, Mr J. Bratlie urged that the Maukoro Canal construction be expedited by the employment oi three more dredges. He said that it had been promised that the work would be completed in four years, yet fourteen years had passed and only four of the fifteen miles had been dredged. Drainage engineers in the past had stated that the lower reaches of the Plains would not be safe from flooding until this canal wap through, yet at the present rate of progress it would not be open in fifty years. By its operations in the upper reaches of the watershed the department was bringing water down into the narrow part of the Piako River at a greater rate than was possible when the danger of flooding was first pointed out. In addition Government assistance was being given the various drainage boards operating in the upper reaches of the watershed. In reply the Minister said that the questions raised concerned the efficiency of his departmental officers, a.nd anyone with his experience would be a bold man to say that the engineers were wrong and the Farmers Union right. He knew that all their actions were open to criticism, but in his experience he had found that his officers were nearer the mark than civilian criticisers. The Lands Drainage Department was up against a difficult proposition, and the Chief Engineer would like to do much more than the finance available would permit. Cabinet had been inundated with requests for finance from ail parts of New Zealand, and the country had been “going to the Jews” annually for loans of eleven or twelve millions.. The resources of the country. had been pledged to the utmost for advances to settlers. Ten million

pounds had been borrowed and lent by that department, and two millions for hydro-electricity, while the roads and the railways had had to be carried. om. All departments had had. to submit to cuts. He had had to cut down the money available lor expenditure by the Chief Engineer, who, however, was doing his heist with what he could get. While he could not say when the sum granted would be increased, the Minister said he fully realised the justice of the complaints of the settlers. A RECREATION GROUND. Speaking in support or a request for Government assistaiice to provide a recreation ground for Ngatea, Mr J. Darlington, on behalf of the Ngatea brunch of the, Farmers' Union, mentioned the rapidly increasing population of the township, which had sprung up by private enterprise at' a place not set aside as a township by the Lauds Department, and therefore had no land set aside for recreation purposes. Ngatea had strong football, cricket, hockey, and tennis clubs, and was the centre where representative matches were played, yet the various clubs had to ‘depend upon- the generosity of settlers for playing fields. There was no suitable Government land available, but other areas could be purchased. at about £lOO an acre. The N.Z. Co-op. Dairy Co. was prepared to sell a nine-acre section for the price it paid for the land. The land adjoining had been purchased from the Government fox - the factory site at £3OO .an acre. To secure idnd for the benefit of recreation for the inhabitants for all time the Government was asked to grant a subsidy of for £l. In reply the Miuistex - said that the area would have to be constituted a public domain to gain assistance. In the matter of domains he had to cut his suit according to the cloth supplied by the Treasury by way of grants In New Zealand there were over 200 domains, and to these he had to allocate the eight or ten thousand pounds set aside fox - the purpose. Last year he gave practically all to the outlying districts, as he realised their difficulties in financing such propositions. However, the maximum grant made had been £2OO, and the policy adopted was £ for £. To exceed that in the case of Ngatea would put a strain upon the finances and mean that similax - requests would come from all parts of New Zealand. The extremely high value set upon th» land made the position difficult, as in most places suitable areas couli be secured at about £2O an acre. Mi - Darlington pointed out that land was selling readily in Ngatea at ■ £4OO an acre. The Minister said that the matter would be dealt with on next year’s estimates. He would promise to assist and go to the utmost limit be could reasonably go. STOCK AREA. The request that the Hauraki Plains County be constituted a stock area under the Agricultural Department was conveyed to the Hon. Minister by Mr A. Cleaver and supported by the county chairman and Cr. T. McLoughlin. In reply the Minister said that the request did not concern nis department, but lie was very sympathetic, and would make representations to his colleague as early as possible. He and the Hon. Mi’ Noswortfay, Minister for Agriculture, agreed on the point that by spending 3% millions annually on general education and less than a quarter of a million on agricultural education the lattex - was not x’eceiving the share it warranted. The city people had the means of providing for isecondaiy, university, technical, and special education, and he was sure that if New* Zealand did not shortly do more to take up' agricultural education it would drop further and further behind other countries. Finance could* only be got by taxation, and the Minister for Agxiculturo had great difficulty in getting votes for his department. He (the speaker) had no intention oi criticising the Minister of Finance, but he had to be very careful making pxomises involving finance. Then thexe was a big doubt if there was a suitable man in the Agricultural Department’s employ for the Hauraki Plains. There was a great scarcity of (suitable men in New Zealand, and it was of no use whatevex - sending a man who was going to educate himself at the expense of the settlers. There was not a man in sight who would be ol use, and. the department did not have the facilities for educating men for such positions. The Government had not lost sight of the importance of the matter, and it was hoped tha> next session .would see some most important legislation of interest to the farmers of the Dominion. • Several minor matters, of importance only to the settlers concerned were brought before the Minister, a c in other places.