OPENING IDLE LANDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 691, 17 June 1929, Page 14

OPENING IDLE LANDS

REQUEST TO MINISTER BAY OF PLENTY AREAS (Special to THE SUN) TAURANGA, Saturday. That the Government should investigate the position regarding idle lands in the Bay of Plenty with a view to increasing settlement was the request of a deputation from the Bay of Plenty Development League, which waited on the Minister of Lands and Agriculture, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, today. On the Minister’s arrival at Tauranga he was tendered a welcome by tho Mayor, Mr. B. C. Robbins, and chairmen of local bodies. Mr. C. T. Clinkard, secretary of the Bay of Plenty Development League, asked that a responsible officer of the Lands Department be sent to the district to make an investigation of the idle lands.

Mr. W. F. Sinclair, on behalf of the Tauranga County Council, indicated the large area of unoccupied native and Crow n lands and also areas granted for military service during the Maori War within easy access of railway and main roads. The military lands were in the same position as certain lands at Pirongia. A deputation from the Judea Land Drainage Board made a request for a Government grant to complete the drainage of Judea Swamp, a block of acres extending south-wards from the borough boundary. The Minister said" that Mr. K. \r Graham, commissioner of Crown lund-. had instructed his officers to make ■’ complete investigation of Crown lands in the district which were available for settlement.

Continuing, Mr. Forbes said he wys impressed with the evidences of good farming of the lands through which he had passed that day and he had no doubt that in the near future there would not be much land left in the district in a rough and unimproved state. As far as Crown lands were concerned he was determined that they would not remain as a reproach on the district.