KUKU LANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 July 1939, Page 5

KUKU LANDS

NOT TO BE TAKEN BY STATE

MR SAVAGES ASSURANCE TO DEPUTATION.

GOVERNMENT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WETJ JNCTOTJ, This Day.

An assurance I hat there would be no mlerl ci'enee with I Ip- lands ol I lie Kuku settlors and that none of their (arms would he taken from them by the t’rown was given by the' i’riiiie Minister, Mr Savage, in i-eplv io a deputation of Kid.ii settlers and their wives vest erda v.

There is a proclamation over these lands, and it was assumed they were tn be used lor the settlement of market gardeners dispossessed of their properties in the Hull Valley. There were about 30 in die deputation, including several Native settlers. ..The Prime Minister's assurance was received by (lie deputation with applause. The representations were also heard bv the Minister of Internal Affairs. Mr Parry, the Minister of Housing, Mr Armstrong, and the Minister of Agriculture. Mr Lee. Martin. In giving the Kuku settlers an assurance that they would be left undisturbed in possession of their lands, the Prime Minister said it was common knowledge' that the Crown always received the worst end of the stick in cases of land taken under the Public Works Act. No action would be taken in connection with the Kuku lands, and the Government would simply have to do something else. The Government's philosophy was to negotiate with the people rather than use any sort of compulsion.

Mr R. G. Wall, spokesman for the deputation, said it was a great relief to the Kuku settlers to have the Prime Minister’s assurance that they would be allowed to remain on their land. Mr Savage said ho regretted that between newspapers and other influences the deputation had been put to the expense of coming to Wellington. The question could have been settled with him over the telephone. At the same time he was glad to see them, for he liked to meet the people. Mr Parry said that some of those who had taken part in the protest meetings had already made offers of land.

Mr Savage: “I have not heard that before, but I am not surprised.” Mr Wall: "Not by anyone here." Mr Parry: "No. not by you people here, but by outside people." Mr Savage said he wished to compliment the settlers on their attitude in defence of their homes. He only wished farmers had always done that, instead of selling their farms at a high price and coming to live in the cities and play bowfin