DEEP PEAT PROBLEM.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5116, 20 April 1927, Page 3

DEEP PEAT PROBLEM.

KAIHERE HOAD SETTLERS. A HOPELESS AREA. On Thursday last the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands, and the Hon. K. S. Williams, Minister of Public Works, spent over an hour discussing the problem of the nine settlers of the Kaihere road deep peat area, whose lands ■ are recognised now as being useless for ordinary farming purposes, and who therefore desire removal to other areas, preferably the Kerepeehi block. This land was thrown open for settlement in December, 1919, against the advice of the officers of the Lapds Drainage Department, who feared what has come to pass. However, the cry for land was too insistent for politicians to pay much heed to the warning. For the first few years the land produced abundantly, but as the surface, is now about water-level, and there is still about fifteen feet above the clay, which was below sea-level, the area is undrainable and unproductive, despite all known methods of farming.

Realising that their farms had no future, value the nine settlers were approaching the Government to give them an opportunity of acquiring land elsewhere, preferably on the Kerepeehi block. They had been told that this block would not be available for at least two years, but they were willing to takq the risk of flooding if given a temporary lease with the right of acquiring a title when the. block was opened for, settlement. The settlers had been assured by the Land Board that their case would receive special consideration. These representations by Mr T. Lynch and Mr W. Wallace were supported by Mr W. G. Hayward, member of the South Auckland Land Board, who stated that it was recognised that there was no future for the district. He urged that some special effort should be made to place the settlers on a special block, which should be acquired by the Government for the purpose if necessary.

The Minister of Lands said that two years ago he had accepted that the area had no immediate or, permanent future. The young men of to-day would be old men before they would be capable of making a living on it. Two years ago the Crown made, a proposition to the whole settlement that they should seek other lands and the State would assist to transfer, them and would wipe out the.ir current accounts. The Kaihere settlers, however, had had their eyes on the Kerepeehi block. He would not admit that the Kaihere. soldier, settlers had any greater claim on the Government than the hundreds of soldiers who had taken up land privately, spent thousands of pounds of their own money, and were to-day working on the roads without a penny of capital. The Kaihere settlers had at least lived rent free for a time. To give them preferential treatment now would be to raise difficulties all over the Dominion. Despite the statements of Messrs Wallace and Lynch he believed the officers of the Lands Department when they said that the Kerepeehi block was not yet suitable for dairying. If he pitted his layman’s opinion against that of the engineers and opened the block against the advice of .the experts the responsibility wouffl be upon him. He was not Prepared to accept that responsibility, but would state that as soon as the officers.of his department said the block was ready for settlement it would be thrown open. The Kaihere settlers would then be admitted to the ballot on the same terms as the others who were in a- similar position. They would have to take their chances with a great many others, for though it had been suggested that a special class of the most needy cases should be admitted to ballots he would not permit it, for that would be establishing the fact that the unsuccessful applicants were deserving of special treatment by the Government. The request of the Kaihere settlers for a temporary lease, of the Kerdpeehi, block was pure camouflage, for once they were on the . land they would be there for good,, and that would be giving them preferential treatment over hundreds of others. Had he been able to give any decision on the subject he would have done so months ago, as the, matter had been before him for a long time. What ever could be done through the Land Board would be done, but little hope could be held out as there was so little suitable land available. A greater difficulty was experienced in the two Auckland land districts than in the whole of the rest of the Dominion. There were 250 abandoned farms in the two Auckland districts and only 100 in the rest of the Dominion. The price of these sections would be “cut to the bone” if it would do any good. He freely and frankly admitted that the. Kaihere settlers, had tried to meet their difficulties and had carried on with fewer complaints than he had expected. He was stretching the law to the utmost, and the land boards were doing likewise, to give assistance, and criticism was frequently raised but he would continue to bear it. Whatever could be done would be done, but further than that he could say no more.

Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P., suggested that the settlers give an undertaking to carry the full responsibility provided they were given land on the Kerepeehi block.

Mr McLeod answered by asking how could men with no money whatever accept the responsibility. The. State would have to advance the money for their stock, and a flood might come and destroy it.

Mr Lynch said that the idea of sc curing a temporary' lease of part of the Kerepeehi block was so that the settlers might save the lives of their cattle, which would die of starvation if kept on the sections another wintcr« The Minister sai.d that this aspect could be considered. Mr Graham, Commissioner of Crown Lands, South Auckland land district, said that the present lessee of the Kerepeehi block considered that the areas sought by the. Kaihere settlers, being about one-third of the whole, and the best, would reduce the value to him of his lease, by about two-

thirds. Mr Graham suggested that the settlers approach the lessee for grazing during the winter months. The request for individual leases was out of the question, as the settlers would “dig themselves in” and put up a claim for a permanent title.

Mr Lynch said that the Kaihere settlers would undoubtedly be prepared to wait for the ballot if it was restricted to soldier, settlers whose cases were equally as bad as those of the Kaihere settlers.

Mr McLeod pointed out that allowing a number of soldiers to take, part in a special ballot would be admitting that the State had a duty to those who were unsuccessful in the ballot.

Further suggestions by Mr Lynch were met by the statement that at present the Kerepeehi block was only suitable for dry stock, which could be removed if necessary in wet weather. Dry stock could wander, at will, feed where possible, and rest at night on the road.

Tlie Minister raised a ray of hope by stating that as the State had an interest in the stock of the settlers it should endeavour to secure grazing to keep tlie stock alive.