STATE FOREST RESERVES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1081, 19 September 1930, Page 10

STATE FOREST RESERVES

17 AREAS WITHDRAWN SUITABLE FOR SETTLEMENT Press Association PARLIAMENT BLDGS.. Thurs. The Acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, moved in the House of Representatives this afternoon, that 17 areas of land, varying - in size from 2,770 acres to 20 perches, should he withdrawn from the permanent State Forests. The Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, said that Mr. Ransom appeared to have established a record in withdrawals from the State and provisional State F orests. He asked whether this was being - done because the land was more suitable for closer settlement than for forestry. The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. W. B. Taverner: A lot of it should never have been included in the State Forests. Mr. Coates asked whether the Government was satisfied that all this land was suitable for closer settlement. Mr. P. Fraser (Labour —Wellington Central) remarked that there had been serious mistakes in the past. Land had been leased to forest companies that would have been more suitable for settlement while on the other hand there had been attempts to place settlers on land that was only suitable for forestry. Mr. Taverner said most of the areas it was proposed to withdraw were small and of no use for afforestation and in most cases they were quite well adapted for settlement. It was the policy of the Government that where : land could produce more if used for I carrying sheep or stock, it should be taken from the forestry reserves and ! held for settlement. After further discussion Mr. Ransom i in reply said the object underlying | the withdrawals was to pro’mote j settlement. Tt was also intended to relieve property owners of the menace of adjoining land that had gone back ! and to improve their boundaries. The motion was adopted.