LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3272, 18 July 1911, Page 5

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

MR. A. B. NEWMAN’S ESTATE. ACQUISITION BY GOVERNMENT The proposal of the Government to acquire Mr A. B. Newman’s property for closer settlement was the subject of a meeting held at the Ormond Hall last evening. Since the members of the Land Purchase Board had inspected the property Mr Newman bad received an offer for the property, which was higher than the Government Valuation, and the meeting was called for the purpose of urging on the Government the necessity of acquiring the property without delay soi that it could be cut up for closer settlement. Mr Win. Graham presided, and there was a large attendance. The chairman, after stating the objects of the meeting, said that he was surprised that the Government had not accepted the property for closer settlement. .

Mr Neenan said that Mr Newman’s property was at present under offer ; to the Government, and it was very important to the district that the Government should take steps to acquire the land for closer settlement. The property had been reported on by the local Valuer and the Land Purchase Inspector had looked over a portion of the property, as also had some of the members of the Land Board. It was a very wet day when the inspection was made, and they did not see all the property.' They expected to return to the district shortly and view the property again, but so far nothing had been done. He thought the meeting should pass a resolution that the Government should obtain a further report on the land with a view to getting a satisfactory agreement with Mr Newman. He moved : “That the Government be requested to acquire this property, as the public understood that Mr Newman has been offered £1 per acre more than the Government valuation, at which price it was put under offer to the Government.” Mr W. D. S. MacDonald, M.P.;-"said that as far as the purchase of land for. settlement was concerned the whole thing was. a matter of statute law, and really the member for the district—beyond, sending a request from the public meeting—had nothing to do. with the purchase of the land. The Land Purchase Inspector, the Land Board, and, the Valuer were the people concerned.' They, of course, had to send a report to the Minister or the Acting-Minister of Lands, and then it came before the who decided whether further negotiations should be proceeded with, or whether the land should not be acquired. So far as he was concerned he would be pleased to forward, any resolution passed by the meeting to. the Minister or, Acting Minister of Lands, who would, .he Was sure, give the matter full consideration. , Mr Newman had offered the property to the Government at a certain price, and was desirous that the Government, should purchase the • property before any other private person or- syndicate,' so that it ronld be cut up for closer settlement. ’ For this Mr Newman should be- commended by the people of Ormond and the district. The motion was carried unanimously.