SOLDIER SETTLERS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3543, 3 August 1920, Page 5

SOLDIER SETTLERS.

ON WAIMARINO BUSH COUNTRY. The soldier settlers in the Raetihi, Retaruke, Te Mata, and Mangapurua districts have formed a Soldier Settlers' Association, for the purpose of representing their disabilities to the Government and in order to facilitate the adoption of recommendations in the interests of the settlers. The area of land in the tolock comprises 36,000 acres, and the total number of settlers is 65. The area felled and grassed at Ist January 1920, was ,6500 acres, and about 5000 acres have since been felled. Stock at Ist July, i 920, totalled 6200 sheep, 510 cattle, and 110 horses. Fencing to the < xtent of 750 chains has been completed. In 1917 no wool was sent out, ami on'y six bales were sent out in 1918. I n 1919 the quantity of wool sent out was sixty bales, and it is estimated that 200 bales will be sent out this year. Most of the settlers have erected whares, and on some of the sections good houses of sawn timber have been erected.

A deputation recently visited Wellington and urged the completion of the Raetihi-Ohura Road, - Mangapurua Valley Road and the Te Mata bridge. The deputation also urged tha f the grant for the development of bush sections be increased, and the Minister said he was prepared to ask Cabinet to sanction an increase of the sum allotted" at present. The Government was urged to se*cure wire at a lower price than the £7O per ton ruling at prese it,, and the Minister said thar a consignment oT wire was arriving an] the price would be very much lower than £7O per ton. The deputation asked thao the amount for felling the bush be increased to £2 10/ per acre, and (he Minister replied that this could piobably be done, and the Association, would be advised later. (This matter was made the subject of the remit to the recent R.S. V Conference from Taihape, R.S.A.. and the remit was adopted).