UPPER WAIKATO LAND.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 44, 21 August 1924, Page 3

UPPER WAIKATO LAND.

MINISTER’S STATEMENT. Deputation to Government. A conference on the subject of taking immediate vigorous steps to obtain official Government recognition of the value of the Upper Waikato land for settlement purposes took place on Monday evening between the Puta*. ruru Chamber of Commerce and the Tokoroa Progress League, on behalf of the league Messrs. C. P. Lock, J. Campbell, L. Hamilton and Stringer attending the monthly meeting of the chamber. In introducing the matter Mr. Lock stressed that the present time was a critical one for the whole district in that the Railway Boarcl had designed a scheme for a railway to suit the requirements of both the timber and settlement needs of the Upper Waikato. However, the Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. W. Nosworthv, had recently made a statenent in Parliament casting doubt on he value of the territory for immigrant settlement and to some extent for settlement by New Zealanders. If this statement were not refuted more than half the warranty for the railway would be lost. A complete reply to Mr. Nos worthy was the success immigrant settlers had already attained on this land and the great and steady increase in production despite lack of practical Government assistance. The league had appointed Messrs. Campbell and Cox to wait on the Government as a deputation in Wellington toward the end of this month ana proposed that a petition signed by as many of the settlers as possible be presented at the same time. They wished the chamber to co-operate and also the settlers from the OngarotoMokai territory to send a representative with the delegation. Members of the chamber spoke strongly endorsing the object and '.z was unanimously resolved that Messrs. Cox and Campbell be also asked to represent the chamber.