Both Disappointed

Levin Daily Chronicle, 9 August 1917, Page 3

Both Disappointed

f ABOUT LEVIN'S LANDS FOR CLOSER SETTLEMENT. HON. MR. MASSKY AND THE MAYOR OF LEVIN. At this week's meeting of the Levin Borough Council the mayor (Mr. C. Blen'khorn) moved tho following motion "That this council 'hears with intense dissatisfaction tho statement of the Prime Minister that he lias been disappointed in acquiring a block of land near Levin, for a soldiers' .settlement, and fails to see n reason for such 'disappointment,' and would point out that tho success which has attended closer :■ tlement in this locality fully warrants the further acquisition of settlement lands in this neighbourhood. "And further, that there are lands in close proximity to tho township v.-hi eh from their character and location would render the .success of a soldiers' settlement .assured. "And that this council if? strongly of opinion that if needs ho such lands should be acquired unler The Land for Settlement Act of 1908. "And that a copy of this resolution he forwarded to the wiembef for the district with a request that he bring tho same under the notice of the Prime Minister. "And that a deputation be formed to wait on the Prime Minister for the purpose of putting before 'him tho opinions in this resolution ■expressed, and the reasons tlie'refor." Tn moving the motion, Mr. Blenkhoni said that the place in which to put a returned soldier was not on a bush section in the heart of the country; a returned soldier yearned for society. All lands that have been cut up for closer settlement in Levin had '•eon successfully settled. lie would have n great deal of pleasure on going on the deputation to put the. case before the Prime Minister. There closer settlement matters were more important than that of a load of gravel at anyone's back door. Councillor Mackenzie seconded' (the motion. Councillor Lancaster supported the motion; if this land was acquired by tho Government it would be the best place on which to settle returned soldiers. 3>r. Bryson said he understood that the reason why tho Government had not acquired the land was becamse it could not get it without buying other parts of tho estate that were under offer. Councillor Bull believed that was so. Ho had seen that day, however, that the 'Government had acquired !tho (Highden estate. That would cost about £70 per acre, and the Heatherlea. lands could have been acquired for much less. A discussion ensued as to which parts of tho Heath erica estate had been offered to the Government, and opinions varic<jl as to whether the land offered was Poroutawhao (land, Arapaepae land, or land on the hills running behind Oliau. Councillors Lancaster and Ryder said that if the land was tho hill landi the Government had done quite right dn refusing to buy it; it would be unfit for soldiers. Tiho motion was carried on tlio voices and the matter of arranging members of tho deputation was left for the I mayor and councillors to decide.