CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT FARM

Shannon News, 12 March 1929, Page 2

CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT FARM

COUNTY COUNCIL TO BE REPRESENTED AT CONFERENCE.

The invitation issued by the Xftvhi Chamber of Commerce to local bodies and organisations interested in the future of the Central Development Farm, to atiem! a, conference on Thursday evening-, was received and dealt with first by the Horowhcuua County Council, at its meeting on Saturday,when it was decided that the chairman (Mr G. A. Monk) and representatives of; the Wirokino. Ruling be the Council’s delegates. When the invitation had- been read, the Chairman moved that, tiro ■Wirokino Riding members attend the conference. Cr. Gimblett: I should 'like you to be there, if possible,' and if you are sufficiently interested in the. disposal of the I arm. I shall be away from home, and c-annot attend. ■ - The Chairman: 1 am interested and if possible, 1 would like to attend. ■ I understand that it is cut and dried that the Farm is to be cut up. ■ It is a necessity, if that is done, to connect the road through the Farm With the Bullcr Road; and before this thing is allowed to go too far, we’ as a local body should insist and represent the necessity for that being carried out. There will be a fair amount of -expenditure on it, because G ler o is' a fairly deep depression in tjic bush. Cr. Ryder:. I. hope the gentlemenwho attend will stress the ridiculousness of the Government spending thousands and thousands on that Farm and then establishing the Massey College. The Chairman; All that has been hounded to death, ; Cr.. Ryder: It ought to be hounded more. It 13 a disgrace to New Zealand. ' , The Chairman: Mr Roe has spent the last three'years on that question. Cr. Kilsby mentioned that- the ’Returned iSoldiers’ Association was interested in a movement; to -have ' the Farm retained as a colony for disabled soldiers, who could assist themselves to a certain extent. lie expected that this proposal would be-brought up at the conference.

Cr. Jensen: What is the object of calling the conference? The Chairman: I think it is to get real unanimity. Different sections of the public have discussed it. The School Committee and the A. and P. Association discussed it from' two different aspects. , There is no unanimity at present, and the Chamber has wisely, decided to call a conference of all bodies interested, so as to .have something with the backing riot only of Levin but of the whole district, and that is how the County becomes interested. , .

Cr. Gimblett: That is the position There are a good many different opinions as to .what should be done with the Farm. Not many are of the opinion that it should be retained for the use it is being put tq to-day. All the bodies have different opinions and want to come to one conclusion as to what would be best for the district

Cr. Kilsby: I have been told that it is correct that it is going- to be cut up and sold.

The Chairman: I understand that it belongs to the Labour Department, and they would have to introduce special legislation. I don’t think that has been done, so far. Mr Hawkeu, when Minister of Agriculture, infoimally discussed it with me when Cr. Catley and myself went as a deputation concernihg the Hokio Road. He said they would probably have to get special .legislation. A resolution was passed authorising the chairman and the members for the Wirokino Ridinlg (Crs. Catley and Kilsby, Cr. Gimblett being unavailable) to represent the Council at the conference b