PATARURU DEVELOPMENT.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 123, 13 March 1919, Page 1

PATARURU DEVELOPMENT.

Minister’s Visit. Tho Minister for Lan s, Hon. D. H. Guthrie, accompanied by the member for the district, Mr J. A. Young, M.P., Mr H. M. Skeet, Commissioner for Crown Lands, and his secretary, Mr Mulligan, visited Putaruru on Friday last en route to a visit to the pumice lands. The party was met at the station by members of the Putaruru Development board, and after visiting farms in the district was entertained to lunch at the Putaruru hotel. Various matters affecting the district were brought before the Minister, in the hall, by members. PARK. Mr Allen asked that a piece of land of 70 acres, about a mile out on the Lichfield road, be vested in a local body for use as a park. He explained that it was Crown land not taken up, and was ideally situated and suitable. The Minister said that the request would have his sympathy. He advised the settlers to apply for authority to control the land as a domain. Mr Barnett said tho County council wish about half a chain of the trees on the land cut back, as at present the sun was kept off the road. Mr Guthrie said that the matter 1 could be dealt with when a board was appointed. It could make an application for a grant, but he could not say that they would get it. PUTARURU LAND.

Mr W C. Hewitt, chairman of committee of the Putaruru Development board, after expressing the league’s pleasure at the visit of the Minister, referred to the objects of the body, and stated that it had the support of the local branch of the Farmers’ union, which was one of the largest and the most financial branches in ihe Thames Valley sub-provincial area. He said the Minister had been taken round that morning so that he would bo aware of the general progress of the district, and because they wished him to disabuse tho mind of the Government and various heads of departments as to the nature of the country. The settlers maintained that it was not pumice land. It certainly contained pumice sand, but it had a good pliable top soil, and was equal to Matamata land, but was not so well developed. He complained of the attitude of the Government departments generally in connection with Putaruru lands, and suggested that they were worthy of more generous treatment. It had been stated, he said, that the settlers just wanted to put a cover on the land to sell. He wished to say that they were bona fide settlers who wanted no favor, but the full 1 sympathy of the Government. I Tho settlers would show later in the day that the land further out was past the experimental stage, and was capable of producing almost anything which could be produced in the South Auckland district. In connection with the T.T.T. railway, Mr Hewitt stated that the settlers required something definite as to its future. At pre■ent no hope could be held out that even the present service would be in any way permanent. They wanted the Government to recognise that tho railway should be a State proposition. The speaker also drew attention to the unfair conditions existing in connection with the Native lands. He asked that means be devised whereby the Natives should be compelled to contribute towards the making and repair of roads through their districts, and also to take steps towards eradicating the rabbit pest. With regard to the National endownmont lands the board suggested that settlers generally were shy of theso and would not invest. The settlers’ suggestion was that the country lands should be exchanged for town land. Thoy thought that town land would be a better financial proposition for the Government and that an exchange would create a progress and pormanance in country lands.

In response to overtures made by Mr Hewitt regarding the errection of a police station at Putaruru Mr J. A. Young produced a letter from the department that when timber was cheaper and funds were available the work would be gone on with. Meanwhile, however, expenditure was more urgently needed in other places. Mr J. A. Young M.P., as member for the district, also extended a welcome to the Minister. Regarding the overtures made by the previous speaker he said there was no doubt that the district had suffered by the attitude of Ministers and the Departments regarding the capabilities of the land. The Government bad not wanted the land nor would it have anything to do with it in times gone by. The heads of departments were filled with old ideas as to the value of land in the district. The settlors did not want the Government to buy the land, but to give them the same facilities in connection with finances that it gave to other districts. He personally knew men in the districts who were putting in good work improving their properties but who were right up against it financially. These men wanted fair financial help so that they could go on with their improvements and bring the land to the state of its highest production, Mr Young said that while they had the Minister in the district he would liko to refer to the proposal to sub-divide the Auckland land district. It was quite time, he said, that the administrative offices were placed somewhere in the centre of the district. He could suggest no better place than Hamilton, not because he lived there but because it was the centre of the new district. If the settlers were brought into touch personally with the office many of the trivial complaints which caused friction would be banished. Mr F. C. Barnett said he was a pioneer of the district, having lived in it for over 35 years. He said he sympathised with the heads of the departments about twenty-five years ago. At that time he was nearly with them—convinced that the land was of little use. But, he persevered, and was long since convinced that it was good healthy country worthy of development. Joined up with this question was that of roading. He explained to the Minister that he was a member of the County council, and said that the latter body had found it extremely difficult. to deal with the district as it had not sufficient roading opportunities. The county had complied with the request of the Government, and had not applied for any grants during the duration of the war. Now that the war is over he felt that the district was fully entitled to ask for grants for the district. The speaker referred to several roads, but more particularly to the Arahiwi-Putaruru road. He said this road would provide ingress and egress to some 15,000 acres which was revenue producing. Developmentwas retarded through the lack of a proper road. Mr Alcorn referred to the Lichfield experimental farm, and said that for many years the Government had left this farm an eyosoro to the district. The noed for

an experimental farm at Lichfield was now entirely eliminated, as good grass could be seen on all sides of the farm. The board suggested that it should be used as a soldiers’ farm. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, in reply, said he was pleased to visit the district, but was sorry that his stay could not be as long as he originally intended. He could assure the settlers that he would pay another visit, and take the opportunity of travelling over the T.T.T. railway line. Regarding the latter, he said he could not give an assurance that it would be taken over by the Government. He recognised, however, the importance of the railway to the district, and his private opinion was that the settlers had nothing to fear. He and Mr Massey had discussed the pumice lands, but had agreed that during the war they were up against finance. Happily the war was ended, but considerable expenditure was not done with. He could not understand that the Government Valuation department had one valuation for taxation, and a lower one for advances. In regard to native lands, it was simple to say that the Maoris got no money, and as he cannot pay his rates, load up his lands; and if h« cannot pay, then sell them. He asked, would they sell their lands and make the Maoris landless. As far as the national endowment was concerned, there was at present no chance of getting through legislation such as they desired. Re the experimental farm at Lichfield, this was the first time he had been asked to sell such a property. All over New Zealand he was being asked to establish experimental farms. He would look into the position at Lichfield and see if the land was under his jurisdiction or that of the Agricultural department. The subdivision of the Auckland land district was now practically completed. Soldier settlement was a difficult problem and had increased their difficulties. He had decided to appoint a supervisor of soldiers’ farms, who would not be a ranger, but a practical man capable of being a and friend to assist the soldiers on the land. As far as he could see at present some of the lands were hardly suitable for returned soldiers without strong financial assistance.

TOKOROA AND MAERAITAI. After lunch the party in three motor cars visited Tokoroa where a deputation of settlers waited on the Minister. Mr Young in introducing then told Mr Guthrie that he was then in the heart of pumice country. Thb demonstration of the country, he said, could not be better than the sight from where they stood:;(outside the school) for where settlement had come they saw green grass and clover, while on the other side there was rough scrub. The settlers here were doing a great work—a National work—and they wanted any assistance the Government could give. They wanted the Minister to learn all about the country and to infuse his knowledge into the heads of the various Government Departments. Mr J. West drew tin- Minister’s attention to the position regarding the timber company’s railway and asked that the Government give the settlers an assurance that it would be permanent. The present position was unsatisfactory while the charges were more than they should be. As an instance of this he qouted the charges on a case of fruit, which cost sevenpence for carriage from Auckland to Putaruru, and two shillings from Putaruru to Tokoroa. Mr H. Geddes thanked the Minister for visiting the locality, and said he had shown that he was honest in his endeavors to learn all about the land, and its possibilities. Mr W. C. Rollett’s remarks were cheifly in reference to the railway and the blocks of Government and Native land. He said that during the last five years the T.T.T. had accumulated profits to the extent of £17,000. This showed that it would be a paying proposition for the Government to take the railway over. The line would give access to much Crown and Native land, - and if owned by the State would give it a monoply of the best totara timber in the country. He submitted that the railway would be a safe and sound business proposition for the Government to take over. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie thanked the settlers for their welcome. He said he had come to see what was being done to the country and to learn of its posibilities. He was controlling one of the | most important departments ot' the state and it was his duty to

look into the question. He was not touring for pleasure but so that he would known the districts. He was now quite satisfied that there was considerable misconception regarding the pumice lands. The Government and the country could not afford to let such valuable lands remain undeveloped, and as soon as opportunity offered ho would see that the question was dealt with. Regarding the railway, he said, that from what he had seen and what he had previously heard he did not think there was a chance of it being closed. No Government would allow that. It was a fact that the railway must remain, no matter to whom it belonged. It was most necessary to the district. In conclusion Mr Guthrie said he would ke< p in touch with the country and would keep the Government alive to the position (applause).