LOCAL PROBLEMS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 270, 10 January 1929, Page 4

LOCAL PROBLEMS.

VISIT OF MR. CLINKARD.

Exchange of. Views-

Mr. C. H. Clinkard, M.P. for the Rotorua electorate, visited Putaruru on Monday at the invitation of the local Chamber of Commerce, so that several local problems which that body had been endeavouring to solve during the past year might be discussed. In the unavoidable absence of the president, Mr. C. C. Neal occupied the chair.

The chairman, in extending a hearty welcome to Mr. Clinkard, congratulated him on gaining the confidence of the electors at the last election, and expressed the hope that the chamber would be able to work with the member for the district as satisfactorily as they had done in the past.

Mr. G. G-- Griffiths, in opening, explained that the chamber’s idea in inviting Mr. Cjinkard was to enable him to be thoroughly conversant with local problems before the meeting with Cabinet Ministers and Auckland M.’sP. early in February. The speaker then outlined the work of the chamber, explaining in detail the work so far accomplished through Mr. Hockly and by means of a deputation to Wellington. This included detailed references to the difficulties farmers experienced in obtaining Government loans, the consolidation of timber interests, classification of lands and others matters all of which were approached from the standpoint of promoting the efficiency of the district. Through the chamber’s efforts and with the cooperation of the T.T.T. Company, Ltd., a reduction in manure freights had already been secured, and they were assured by Mr. Dalziel, chairman of the T.T.T. Company, that further benefits for the settlers could be secured if the timber interests were consolidated. Efficiency Wanted. The speaker emphasised that efficiency was the ideal aimed at so that the land could be worked, the finance obtained and the local railway run, with a view to promoting the best interests of the district as a whole. Old ideas would not do, and what was wanted was new methods, stripped of red tape, which should be put into operation for the benefit of the district as a whole, and which would consequently be of benefit to tion. The Government was an interested party for they owned a large block of the finest bush in New Zealand which could only be profitably tapped by the local railway, and which it was economically unsound to allow to remain in its natural state. Summed up, the chamber desired that the land should be used to the best advantage, every acre contiguous to the railways being regarded as a potential customer, also the removal of the stigma on the land so that finance could flow freely, and the -co-operation of all interested parties so that the present light railway could be used to the best advantage. The chamber was not promoting a policy of “ something for nothing,” and had nothing to hide. All its cards were on the table and it was confident that if an enquiry could be obtained such as the visit of an officer of the Department of Industries as partly promised by Mr. Coates grant benefits to all would result.

In reply,. Mr. Clinkard stated that ho was entirely in accord with the chamber’s views. Twenty years ago while at Mamaku, he had detected a deficiency in the soil and had noticed that stock which ate bran escaped the sickness. He was also conversant with conditions around Matamata and Te Puke, and one had only to look at the calves in the district to feel that the “ black mark ” mentioned by the previous speaker was not warranted. Tokoroa Praised. In his opinion Tokoroa was going to develop into one of the finest pieces of dairying land in the Auckland province, and if he were a young man he would have no hesitation in going straight to Tokoroa and buying land. The present position was ridiculous, for a man might own a piece of land worth £IOOO for taxation purposes, but. it,; was not worth 5d fo* loan purposes., He paid rates, rente and taxes, but ‘he could not get a £5 note on loan.

Last wefek he took the Hon. T. If. Wilford round part of the pumice area, and showed him what could be done on it. At one place a fanner had grown a crop of potatoes which averaged 15 tons to the acre. The farmer received £425 for the crop and cleared £3OO net, despite the fact that he had to cart everything to and from the “ wilderness.”

u Seeing is Believing.” Mr; Wilford had been amazed at what the district would piuauce, and had stated that if the 80 members of parliament could be shown such there wouid be no trouble or doubts about settling the pumice lands. They had to dissipate the erroneous opinion which was held all over the Dominion in regard to pumice lands, and he was glad the chamber was moving in the matter. He was at present thinking out means of bringing the matter before the House so that evidence could be taken and lie would be pleased to work with the chamber in this direction. They were fortunate in having the assistance of the Press, and though Rotorua and Putaruru were on different sides of the range, their inter- ■ ests were identical and he hoped they would work together. The development o f land near railways was an important question, but .he felt that it could go hand in hand with developing outside areas. He was entirely in accord with the chamber’s views, and strongly supported -any movement which would get people more attached to the soil so that they would become lovers of the land. (Applause). Vote of Thanks. On the motion of Messrs. Coupe and Alcorn, Mr. Clinkard was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for 3iis address. Mr. Alcorn stated that they were fortunate in having a man like Mr. Clinkard, who appeared to have a grip equal to, if not better than, their own on the problems connected with the pumice lands. The bulk of the lands for settlement were in the Auckland province, and in the pumice lands they had the key position. He hoped that they would be able to innoculate the various members with “their views.'' Without the consolidation of the various timber interests the company could not be expected to do the Government’s job. Mr. Neal, in putting the vote of thanks, stated that they had the climate and the sub-soil and with these factors and suitable transport facilities they could make the soil do anything. Mr. Clinkard had shown that he had a practical grip of the whole question, and he felt they -were very fortunate. (Applause).