AH OUTSIDER’S VIEW.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 66, 24 January 1918, Page 2

AH OUTSIDER’S VIEW.

Of Matamata District. Matamata is beginning to come into its own. The expansion and development of the district is well known to the residents. They have faith in the future. They known that the district is going to grow and grow. The sceptic, or cynic, or pessimist cannot shake their optimism. Outsiders are paying attention to Matamata. It is not very many years ago since they would not look at Matamata land. That is just why old Matamata residents are smiling, —it is a case of he who laughs last laughs longest, and when you have backed your opinion and it comes out right laughter is pleasant. Mr Harold Beauchamp, chairman of. the Bank of New Zealand, a shrewd, astute businessman has been paying a visit to these parts. In‘an interview he gives some of his impressions to the Metropolitan press. They are worthy of repetition. Mr Beauchamp says: “As an example of what can be done by a small farmer, with the assistance of his family, a man I met in Morrinsville owns 98 acres at Matamata, four acres of which are reserved for an orchard. On the remainder, 94 acres, he runs 40 cows, the milk from which he sells to a glaxo and cheese factory. Last month, on the basis of Is and 2s per lb for butter-fat delivered for cheese and glaxo respectively, his cheque, which I saw, amounted to £135 odd, equal to £3 7s 6d per cow. To this has to be added the value of the whey, for feeding calves, which the farmer to him in the case of milk supplied for cheesemaking. “ The advance in land values during the past decade,” continued Mr Beauchamp, 41 is almost staggering, and, despite war conditions, buyers are operating freely, provided they can induce vendors to leave a fairly large proportion of the purchase money on mortgage for a term of years at, say, 6 to per cent, per annum. It is interesting to note the increase in the value of lands formerly owned by the Bank of New Zealand, say 15 and 20 years ago. Take, for instance, the great Matamata Estate, acquired by the Government in 1899 under the Lands for Settlement Act at a fraction less than £3 per acre. This land, subdivided and leased in perpetuity, is to-day changing hands as high as £45 per acre, and many people regard it as remarkably cheap at that figure. Yet shortly after Matamata was taken up under lease in perpetuity tenure several settlers petitioned the Government for a reduction in rent, on the ground that they could not afford to pay the same. In the light of after events, it is difficult to believe that the concession in rent was granted in the case of many petitioners.”