MOVING WAIKERIA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 566, 19 January 1929, Page 12

MOVING WAIKERIA

PROPOSAL TO MINISTER LAND FOR CLOSE SETTLEMENT (From Our Own Correspondent) TE AWAMUTU, Friday. The Ngahape-Tokanui Settlers’ Association is of the opinion that it would be in the public interest if all or part of the Borstal Institute property of about 5,500 acres at Waikeria was taken over by the Lands Department and made available for closer settlement. With this object in view a deputation waited on the Hon. G, W. Forbes, Minister of Lands and Agriculture, who visited Te Awamutu to-day. Mr. Wyllie, a member of the deputation, stated that as the present Government was concerned with the problem of closer settlement, a portion of the Waikeria Borstal Institute lands was admirably suited for chat purpose. , The institute could be re-estab-lished on land not so handy to roads and towns. At present the land was not being handled to advantage. If divided into farms of about 80 acres the production would be increased considerably.

Mr. J. T. Johnson supported the representations. 1-Ie asked the Minister to consider the economic advantages of making the land available for small farms. The present Borstal camp could be shifted to another area. Closer settlement on partlyimproved lands was more likely to be successful than the old practice of placing men on unimproved lands. Th© Minister said he would discuss th© matter with the Minister of Justice. It might be that the Minister would see the viewpoint of the deputationists.