CONTENTED SETTLERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 897, 14 February 1930, Page 11

CONTENTED SETTLERS

MR. FORBES PLEASED WITH TOUR VISIT TO RAGLAN DISTRICT JFrom Our Oxen Correspondent HAMILTON, Today. During- their tour of South Auckland yesterday, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister of Lands, and Mr. K. M. Graham, Commissioner of Crown Lands, inspected an area of 600 acres of drained swamp at Rotorangi, owned hy Mr. V. H. Nolan, and GDI acres of grass land at Ngaliinepouri, owned ]>y Mr. Donald McDonald, of Remuera. which are under offer to the Government for closer settlement. Tho offers are receiving consideration. In all ca.'-es of land purchase by the Government, the price and suitability for settlement are the main factors, weighing with the purchase officers. Unless these are of such a nature as to afford the settler entering upon the land an opportunity of making the holding pay, the officers will not recommend the purchase. The department’s concern is not only to protect ; lie interests of the ratepayers as a whole, whose moneys it handles, but to see that the settler entering upon such land has a reasonable chance to win out.

“It is refreshing to find such a spirit of cheerfulness and optimism throughout the district,” commented Mr. Forbes, before leaving for the South last evening, referring to the four days’ tour of the Raglan electorate. “Tho district seemed to be free from complaints, and it is nice to find the settlers so satisfied. Their contentment and cheerfulness acted as a setoff to some other districts where there is a disposition to growl.” Mr. Forbes said it was highly gratifying to know that during the whole tour Mr. Graham, who had met a large number of soldier-settlers, had not received a single complaint. This was a tribute to the very sympathetic treatment accorded them by the Crown Lands Department, which was anxious to give every assistance to men who showed a. disposition to make good.