CLOSER SETTLEMENT IN THE MASTERTON DISTRICT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8106, 28 March 1906, Page 5

CLOSER SETTLEMENT IN THE MASTERTON DISTRICT.

- MATTER AGAIN DISCUSSED BY THKJ BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The following letter was received at the meeting of the Borough Council, last evening, from Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., in reference to tbe resolution, recently passed by the Borough Counoil, asking tbe Government to[ acquire land in the vicinity of Masterton for the purposes of closer settlement:—"This matter, I assure you, has occupied my attention for years, and my correspondence with the Government and the Land Purchase Board on the subject has been voluminous. The reason why property has not been | obtained for subdivision and settlement is briefly this: Thai; except in a very few instances, owners object to sell, and the Government refuses to force them The price hitherto demanded by occupiers and owners of suitable estates has exceeded what the Land for Settlement Board has been prepared to accept. Properties have been examined and carefully valued, but subsequent negotiations have proved resultleas. Meanwhile, owing to exceptionally good seasons and markets; values have largely increased. There is no doubt that if the State had come to terms with the owners of certain properties some years ago, it would have done a wise thing for this part of the colony. You will remember the reluctance displayed over the purchase of Langdale, yet it has proved for everyone concerned a splendid investment. One oannot helo concluding that the , Lands for Settlement Act has for years, in tbe Wellington district, been virtually suspended. When )t is considered that in the Eketahuna County, with its rough, hilly country, the population averages 14 persons to ,the square mile, while Masterton has buS five to the square mile; and that during the ten years from 1896 to 1905, ia the Masterton County £1,554, and in the Featherston County, £2,121 of graduated land tax has been lost by sub division among relatives, and that every year the expense involved, and difficulty of obtaining land for closer settlement is materially increased; the conclusion is inevitable that oui land for settlement system requires to be reviewed, and amended. If you can suggest any properties that the owners are willing to sell at a fair or reasonable price, I will readily submit the proposal to the Land Purchase Board, but seeing that the compulsory taking of land has of late years almost invariably resulted in the Government getting the worst of it in the Arbitration Court, the Board can hardly be expected to recommend such a process of land acquisition. There are several blocks of Native Jand from which tbe milling timber has been removed, situated along the Main Road between Uastwell and Hamup, which I think might be acquired fur settlement. If a few petitions were placed in circulation addressed to the Premier, asking that these reserves be acquired and thrown open for settlement, 1 will do all 1 can to have effect, given to them; subject to ample provision being made for the native owners."

The Premier's private secretary wrote acknowledging receipt of a letter conveying the resolution passed by the Council. The resolution bad been noted, and the matter would receive the attention of the Government. Or Ewlngton moved that the Mayor be asked to call a public meeting of citizens to discuss the matter, with a view to form lag a deputation to wait on the Premier, and to push on the Council's requests. Cr Pauling seconded the motion, which was carried.

)CABLE NEWS.

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