HON. D. GUTHRIE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1643, 21 May 1919, Page 7

HON. D. GUTHRIE.

dannevirke deputations. Frets Association. DANNEVIRKE, May 21. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lauds, last evening met a number of deputations at Dannevirke. One from the Returned Soldiers' Association urged the speedy opening up of the Tiratu Block, an increase in the Government grant in specially-approved cases, and an alteration in the tenure to permit a soldier to buy out a neighbouring soldier if he wanted to., The Minister held out«no hope of permitting soldiers aggregating in this way, and said the extension of the present limit of the advance was a matter for Cabinet. He said the Tiratu block will be opened in July and a ballot held in Dannevirke. A water supply for the block would be provided, and the sections would range in area from 100 to 250 acres. The Minister was also approached by the Chamber of Commerce on the subject of land aggregation. He said he was fully alive to what was going, on and intimated that in certain cases under notice the provisions of the Aet of last session would be put into force if present intention of suspeeted aggregators was carried out. He intended making au attempt to close the loophole in the clause of the last Act relating to aggregation. j Other matters, dealing with the shortage of railway trucks, stock, patriation and the electoral headj quarters of the Pahi.itua electorate, were brought under the Minister's notice, and "will be referred to the , different Ministers concerned.