OHAU LANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 July 1939, Page 5

OHAU LANDS

ACQUISITION BY STATE OPPOSED STRONG PROTEST BY SETTLERS. COMBINED STAND BY MAORIS AND PAKEHAS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) LEVIN, This Day. In. connection with the proposal of the Government to take an area of land near Ohan for the purpose of market gardens, to replace those taken at Upper Hutt as sites for State houses, a meeting attended by 250 farmers of the District ,their wives and a large representation of natives was held at Ohau last night. The tone of the meeting was one of protest against the intended action of the Government in taking the settlers’ land. Several aired their views in a vigorous manner. The general principle objected to was the policy adopted in walking in and taking the properties. This was aggravated by the fact that the first notification received by tenants was when the proposal appeared in the Press. The following resolution was carried: — "That this meeting of 250 farmers. Maori and pakeha and their wives, strongly protests against the confiscation of the Kuku dairy farm land, and are prepared to fight the proclamation with every means in their power. That is is the considered opinion of the meeting that the lands under proclamation are serving a greater cause in the production of milk for Wellington city and schools and a constant supply of fat stock for the city than in growvegetables."

The case of Maori members of the community affected is considered Io be a strong one. They claim that some of their lands have been handed down through several generations. They object to the policy of taking what they term “tribal lands.” The settlers have no intention of relinquishing their land without a struggle. The effect on the Kuku-Manakau Dairy Factory will mean that the supply from 700 cows will be cut off. In the opinion of settlers, the factory could not be operated economically without these cows.