The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, March 30, 1915. CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1380, 30 March 1915, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, March 30, 1915. CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

Wk arc pleased to learn that the question of closer settlement of the lard adjacent to Foxlon is receiving attention by the public, and that a meeting is to be called at an early dale to discuss the snhj'Ct, with a view of approaching the Government to take action. The prosperity of Foxton and adjicent towns depends in largemeasure upon the closer settlement of the land, and fostering the welfare of the hemp industry. That the Government has not turned its attention to land settlement in this district is not surprising, when one considers local bovine indifference of the subject. The man who makes two blades of grass to grow where one previously sprouted, is a public benefactor. There is room on thousands of acres nearby for the realisation of this truism. Let our local public men opeu the eyes of our Parliamentarians by arranging a trip up the river, and round about to view the country capable of settling hundreds of families where comparatively little or no improvements have been effected. This country can produce untold wealth provided the Government undertake the question oi settlement. If allowed to remain as at present then the Government is guilty of heaping up the unearned increment, All surplus laud should be taken away from the mau who will not profitably work it, for such an oue is a menace to the prosperity not only of the district, but the Dominion. There is laud monopoly in the district, and the sooner the fact is brought under the notice of the Government the belter. This district is crying out for closer settlement.