The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, June 29, 1915. CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1417, 29 June 1915, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, June 29, 1915. CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

Considerable local interest is being manifested in the agitation for closer settlement in this district. A petition, containing the names oi over 500 hundred residents of Foxton asking the Government to acquire land adjacent to the town for closer settlement, has been presented to the Prime Minister by the member for the district, and Mr Massey had authorised an inspection to be made, and as a result Mr Brodarick, of the Lands Department, visited Mouloa. The nature of his report will be disclosed in the future, From what we could gather of his visit, he was very favourably impressed with the land, for settlement purposes. What the next move will be of course depends upon the Government, but Mr Field, who has the matter in baud, can be depended upon to keep the local public public informed as to future operations. There must be no slackness on the part of those who have this agitation in hand if they desire to pus h the matter to a succeesful issue. There are large -'teas suitable tor settlement purposes hi this locality, the laud hunger is acute, and Foxton's prosperity depends upon tlie culling up of adjacent large areas, and tin* Increased productivity of the suit. The suggested aeipiisilloti ol the Mouloa If look, which includes .pioo acres of Ihrx land, is a matter of vital Importance to the hemp industry in general, and local fluxmillers In particular. If it can be proven Ural lire private ownership of tills large llax area Is a menace to the development of the industry, imposes unloir conditions upon the millets or the industrial workers, then it is tire duty of the Stale to either acquire the laud or pass such restrictive legislation as will protect the future of the industry. It Is alleged that the “swamp” or green flax area, in this locality has not received the attention in the matter of draining and cultivation that is necessary to ensure a continuity of supply. If this allegation is correct, the Government should take immediate steps to inquire into the matter, with the object of increasing the supply of the green blade. The subject should be approached from an entirely national point of view, as the hemp industry has now become one of our chief exports.