FUTURE OF NORTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 926, 20 March 1930, Page 7

FUTURE OF NORTH

development urged by MEMBER “MUST ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST” “If money be made available at a reasonable rate of interest, a great improvement will follow. I have been deeply impressed by the possibilities of the lands in the North." The speaker was Mr. TV. J. Jordan M.t*-, who returned this morning fron •«n extensive tour, during which )*» passed through the Kaiparu electorate ;ind addressed meetings at Dargaville, Ta Kopuru. Ruawai, Tangiwahinc, pukehuia. Helensville and Waimauku. Interviewed, Mr. Jordan said: • Although at present only approximately one- half of the 2.000,000 acres ~1 occupied land in the Northern district is used it Is evident that if money Is made available at a reasonable rate of interest a great improvement will bo made. • About one-fifth of the used land has been topdressed, but, because of the ittvourable conditions, the season has “The drop in the payment for butterbeen a good one for production, fat side by side with the increase in the price of money has further affected farmers in their desire to improve their holdings. •I formed the opinion that, while there is room for more settlement, attention must be given to the unused occupied land of the North, where great possibilities exist and where the population can he greatly increased, thereby bringing about closer settlement. •It is not enough to settle families ~n the land. We must give them . very reasonable encouragement and assistance to enable them to work their holdings to the fullest capacity of the land, thereby increasing production and also employment.” Mr. Jordan added that a feature of iho meetings throughout the tour had been the number of questions asked and the growing interest in the policy «*f the Labour JParty.