THE PUTARURU PRESS. Phone 28 P.O. Box 44 Office Oxford Place THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1929. "HE CAME—HE SAW”

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 298, 25 July 1929, Page 4

THE PUTARURU PRESS. Phone 28 P.O. Box 44 Office Oxford Place THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1929. "HE CAME—HE SAW”

WHEN the Putaruru Town Board, Chamber of Commerce and other local bodies succeeded in getting the Minister of Lands and Agriculture (the Hon. G. W. Forbes) to visit the district last March, they in common with others felt that the visit would result in something definite being done in the way of adjusting certain legitimate grievances that existed. The Minister came; he was taken over the district, portions of which are alleged to be bush sick. He was also shown what this and the pumice country generally was capable of being turned into. Those who were present with the party opined that the Minister was impressed, and his attitude and remarks led to a confirmation of this opinion. On his arrival at Putaruru the Minister listened to sound contentions on the subjects of the removal of the stigma affecting the town and district in regard to finance,' and to the planting of trees on farm lands. The Minister promised consideration to all the requests, and the result of such consideration was before the Putaruru Chamber of Commerce at their last meeting, when the Minister negatived any suggestion of unfavourable treatment by the State Advances and Valuation Departments. How the Minister can in face of the evidence that was placed /in his hands make this assertion he alone knows. He saw the excellent farms on which advances had been applied for, and which had been declined, so that there is no excuse for the blister to shelter himself behind his departmental officers. If anything further is needed in the way of confirmation of the district’s claims for just treatment it is to be found in the figures of the Tokoroa Co-operative Dairy Company for the season just ended; An increase of approximately 66 tons of cheese, with an increase of over £4OOO in the advance payments, speak for themselves, and is a vindication of the despised (in Wellington) Tokoroa district land. Last week we advocated a conference of local bodies relative to tree planting on grass lands with a subsequent deputation to Wellington, and the Minister’s letter to the Chamber strengthens the need for such procedure. Apparently nothing is to be gained by appeals to individual Ministers (and an instance of this was found in the case of the Presbyterian conscientious objectors and the deputation to the Minister of Defence and the further appeal to the Prime Minister, who said that it would have been- better had he been waited on in the first instance). A deputation should proceed to Wellington and lay the position before the Prime Minister. The position is serious and calls for immediate ae~tion.