UNO CLASSIFICATION.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 277, 28 February 1929, Page 5

UNO CLASSIFICATION.

IMPORTANT STATEMENTS.

Minister Outlines Policy.

Progressive Settlement Plans.

During the course of his speech while opening the Matamata Show the Hon. W. B. Taverner, in his capacity of Commissioner of State Forests, made an important statement in connection with the classification of land.

The Minister said he desired to make clear his attitude towards the question of the class of land to be used by the State Forest Service for its planting operations and to clear up any misconceptions. The matter had been raised by a deputation of Karioi settlers, „ who considered that land was Being planted in trees which was quite suitable for farming purposes.

While giving full credit to the State Forest Service for the magnificent work it had achieved in the Waiotapu and Kaingaroa areas it , was his intention to inaugurate a policy of closer co-operation with the Departments of Lands, Agriculture and the Forest Service which would have for its object a definite scheme of demarcation or grading in regard to the different areas. It was the desire of the Government that every possible effort should be made to increase primary production, and it was hoped that presently the details of a land settlement scheme would be announced which would enable large numbers of people to secure small holdings. No effort would be spared to ensure that the land opened up for settlement under the scheme would be suitable for agricultural or pastoral pursuits, so that settlers would have a reasonable chance of developing successfully. The State Forest Service would in future confine its efforts to areas which though not suitable for settlement were suited for afforestation.

It had been suggested that certain areas which had been already planted by the Forest Service should be resumed for agricultural purposes. In this connection he desired to point out that by far the greater portion of land which had been utilised by the State for planting purposes in the pumice region was subject to what was commonly termed “ bush sickness.”

The question of deciding whether any area which had been planted by the. State should be resumed for planting purposes was one which involved several important economic problems, the first of which was the amount of value which had been created by the activities of the department in forming the plantations affected and the capital outlay which the work had involved. It had also to be borne in mind that low-grade land, after having carried a crop of trees which had been cut and marketed in the ordinary way, would be in much better heart and more suitable for settlement than in its original condition. In conclusion the Minister said he was not prepared to say at the moment that any areas planted in trees should be relinquished by the State Forest Service, but the public could rest assured that full investigation would be made as opportunity offered. There was no need for a clash of any interests and he would assure them that either officially or unofficially they would find that he would be their servant if they called upon him. (Applause.)