CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3888, 27 December 1928, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

('To the Editor). Sir, —In conjunction with the slogan “let Eoxton prosper,” the prospect of a butter or cheese factory may be added, vide the Mayor’s ’Xmas message, but in order to help bring about that prosperity, a much broader grasp of that ideal will have to be exhibited by the powers most concerned. Unfortunately, Eoxton in some cases in the past has been made subordinate to other communities in regard to production from the land, and also industrially. There is.a ease in point on, the north-eastern boundary of Eoxton, There is, I understand, an area ;of four hundred acres of land. This is an educational reserve. The last occasion on which the lease was put up for tender, the notice was confined to one particular Wanganui paper, with the result that this area is bringing into the c'offers of the Education Board the munificent sum of £lO per year, i.e., sixpence per acre. In fact an area of five acres with a house let to a tenant pays the lessee the total rent for the whole area. Now, Sir, this land is capable of high production, and this case must v not be lost sight of by the present worthy representive of this ward of the Wanganui Education Board, when the lease is again up for tender. Then, again, let one Visit the southern portion of Eoxton, and just about a mile from the P.O. is some of the finest land in the district that would carry several families, and dairy herds. Sonte of it has never been ploughed, and its sole use is for grazing purposes.. Where’s the sense in sending people to the outbacks to carve out homes in the wilderness, when such land is lying idle in the environment of the towns. Then, on the other hand, iwhat a deplorable example to set. the industrialist, who is continually being told to increase production of his handicraft. Yet here are examples of a town being held back, its march of progress stayed, simply because of the lack of vision and enterprise, coupled with the hard-dieing conservatism of the big landholder, some who in the past have been guiding the destinies of Eoxton. Yet they fail to become party to the slogan “let Foxton prosper.” Where a policy of eloser settlement adopted in the environs of this town, then it must follow, that not only would the land be put to its utmost production, but other essential industries must follow, which naturally would bring more business of a varied nature into the town, which would also tend to retain in the town, capital which, unfortunately, is now being spent in other towns, though made in Foxton. Let ius hope the Mayor’s project ' bears fruit, but at the same time may we all combine ito initiate the only means that can ensue prosperity to Foxton —closer settlement, and increased production of laind at present producing practically nothing for tthis towns benefit, for in truth are we not treated as a suburban area of another town. Yours, etc., E. G. MARTIN.