EAST COAST LANDS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10194, 22 March 1911, Page 7

EAST COAST LANDS.

MOVEMENT TO OPEN THEM UP

[By Telearavh —Press Association.]

GISBORNE, Yesterday.

A Deputation, consisting of about fifty settlers, met the Hon. R. McKenzievat Tologa Bay last-night, and district '.requirements were brought under lift notice.

As tovthe Tologa Bay bridge, the I Minister-said that the Government subsidy should have beeu obtained before its erection, but. as work had been completed, and the Auditor-General would not now pass the item if the subsidy wore granted, the rating area' should be extended, bringing Waiapu and Gisborne in if necessary.

With regard to land for settlement, a great demand existed throughout the country, but the difficulty was that where the Government signified their intention of acquiring land compulsorily, the owners raised the price to such an extent that the Government could not let it to settlers at a reasonable rental. The Government, therefore, had to pay through the nose for every acre thus acquired.. He advised them to take advantage of the Land Settlement Finance Act. The Government was taking estates wherever they could find them at a reasonable price.

Mr McDonald, M.P., referring to the Land Settlement Finance Act, said that no measure which had ever been put on the statute book gave a man of small means a better chance to get on the land. ,

The party proceeded to Tokomaru to-day. The meeting of settlers at Tologa Bay urged that the Harbour Board, in leasing Tauwhareparai Block, should cut it up into small holdings, instead of only six sections. It is also suggested that they should prevent aggregation. Mr McDonald said he -would try to get a special meeting of the Board to consider the subject.