THE DEMAND FOR LAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1918, Page 5

THE DEMAND FOR LAND.

MINISTER'S WARNING. DUTY OF LARGE OWNERS. Gisborne, Sept. 22. Speaking to a deputation which had urged the establishment of soldier settlements in tliis district, the Hon. W. D. S. Macdonald said to-day that he had made out a list of 150 farmers, from Mangatu to East Cape, owning from 3000 acres up to 40,000 acres. He was of opinion that these men could hand over a portion of their land pro rata at a reasonable price, and that it was not too much -£o expect from them. He hoped that local land- i owners would take into consideration the fact—he was not one given to making threats—that there was a demand for land, and that it would be well for owners of large areas of land to hand over a certain portion for this purpose. When there were large numbers of men anxious. to get on the land, some provision 'had to be made. Referring to Native land purchase operations, the Minister said that all the ; land purchased had been car-marked for soldiers' settlements. He did not think there would .be any difficulty in consolidation, at which the Hon. A. T. Ngata ' had been working. Neither did he think it would be necessary to wait until the other purchases were completed before getting some of this land opened: There were now 20,000 returned men, and he ■ d;d net thing that settlement should be delayed much longer. There were not, however, men for reading and surveying, i and, apart from this, everything was ' now so expensive. The Government had over 200,000 acres in the Urewera Country, some of which was really good land, and when a few more purchases were completed he thought they would 1» able to proceed with settlement.