ORONGO SETTLEMENT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5243, 24 February 1928, Page 2

ORONGO SETTLEMENT.

HARDSHIPS OF SETTLERSDEPUTATION TO MINISTER. The troubles and! difficulties, on count of tall fescue and lack of an adequate water supply at Orongo have frequently been referred to in these columns, and there is no doubt that the soldier settlers on that block are having an unenviable experience. Their impossible position was again ventilated on Wednesday. In the absence of Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P., the settlers requested Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., to place their case before the Minister of Lands. On Wednesday morning Mr Samuel arrived at Paeroa and went straight d°wn to Orongo. where he met the settlers and was able to observe for himself the pitiable plight in which the returned sol.-W" diers are placed. Later in the Mr Samuel travelled to Te Aroha, where he waited on the Minister of Lands (Hon. A. D. McLeod). In stating the position of the settlers Mr Samuel pointed out that their case was a very desperate one indeed. While the settlerts, were grateful for the assistance ungrudgingly given by the Government up to the present, and although they had made 0 an honest endeavour to farm their holdings, the position had become impossible. With the continuation of the dry weather there was practically no water, and the ground was so cracked and crevassed that it looked as if it had suffered a thousand earthquakes. The Minister was asked to And other, suitable properties for the settlers, where they would have -aX chance of making a living. An ear- - nest appeal was made by Mr Samuel for sympathetic consideration and early assistance.

REPLY BY MINISTER. ' In reply to the deputation the Minister said that he was not in a position to make any promises. The position was he was hedged in by leg,al difficulties and could not possibly buy property for any one section of. the community without throwing it open to the public for selection by ballot. Special or preferential treatment could not be given in the case of the Orongo settlers, but instructions would be immediately given to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, to visit the settlement aniU forward a report on the whole posi-T tio>n at once to Wellington.