LAND POLICY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 540, 25 May 1933, Page 4

LAND POLICY

The policy statement in regard to the Galatea, Ngakuru and Onepu development blocks, made by the Minister of Lands at the opening of the Rotorua Winter Show yesterday will be generally welcomed by all who are interested in the progress and deyelopment of the district. Perhaps the most welcome note struck by the Minister so far as Rotorua is concerned was his profession of faith in the future of the pumice country. This is ■ no new profession for Mr. Ransom has always been convinced of the value of this land and by his foresight and practical endeavours has done more than any previons holder of the port-/ folio, to bring it into production, i During the last two years parti- 1 cularly, his hands have to a ; large extent been tied by the; exigencies of the financial situ- 1 ation, but as he made plain yes- ; terday, he has not abandoned his ideals of developing the pumice land to its full capacity. If he left any mark at all, said the Minister y he hoped to leave it through bringing idle lands into production. Unquestionably Mr. Ransom has left his mark already although the full realisation of his efforts must be left to the future. There will always ; be dilferences of opinion upon methods of land development, but in spite of his critics, Mr. Ransom announced his firm determination not to deviate from his policy, As we have already pointed out, it is to be regretted that the Minister has not given a fuller statement of his policy previously. If he had done that, there is no doubt that a great deal of the criticism would have been allayed. Mr. Ransom's department, however, in this has only followed the procedure established by the majority of Government departments and that is to maintain a very official silence in regard to their activities. A reasonable relaxation of this attitude and a greater disposition to take the public into their confidence would possibly do more than anything else to improve the public understanding of the work of Government departments. The figures for production at Ngakuru and Galatea quoted by the Minister were convincing. The public would have been further enlightened if the costs incurred in the development of the land had been quoted, but there is no question, after personal inspection, that very good work is being done on these blocks. There were, however, one oy two points which the Minister might more fully have elaborated in answer to the criticisms that have been raised. It is not apparent, for instance, why the Government proposes to delay a ballot for the first batch of Ngakuru sections until February of next year, for there can be no doubt that a very considerable area of pasture has been established at Ngakuru for some time. The same, on the Minister's own statement, also applies at Galatea. No argument can be advanced against the Minister' s policy of consolidating pasture where consolidation is1 ■ needed, but it is not always nceded and it should then be pbssible to accelerate settlement on areas which can be taken up almost immediately. On the other hand the Minister is faced with difficulties of finance again and it is in all probability these which have made it necessary to proceed slowly. That doqs not in any way depreciate the vqlue of the work done and the fact that New Zealahd and Rotorua in paTticular, is f ortunate in a Minister of Lands who is administering his portfolio with foresight and practical knowledge.