THE HON. J. McKENZIE AT PALMERSTON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 140, 15 June 1893, Page 6

THE HON. J. McKENZIE AT PALMERSTON.

Tho Minister of Lands, the Hon. J. MeKenzio, addressed a largely-attended meeting of his Constituents in the Town Hall, Palmerston South, oh May 26th. The Mayor presided. THE LAND LAWS. Referring to his own department;, he ventured to say that at the present mbmeno New Zealand had a more liberal Land Act than any other Britisli colony. Mr MoKenzie explained the provisions of the measure which was laatyear placed on the Statute Book. While he maintained that the Crown grant should always bo respected, and that no one should have to give up for settlement property acquired under the land law of the country without being fully compensated for any loss ho might sustain, ho aJeo maintained that when bona fide settlement was necessary in the interests of the country the demand must be met by tho re-pur-chase of land already disposed of. As he travelled through tho various parts of the colony, hia eyes had been considerably opened regarding the way in which the huge estates were blocking settlement. Ho found that in Nelson, Marlborough, and North Canterbury it woiild be absolutely necessary for tho Crown to re-pufchase some of the land already sold to.enable them to make use of tho back country. The frontayes had all been purchased by largo landed proprietors to secure water courses and river roads. Millions of acres had thereby been rendered useless to anyone but themselves. These facts, he thought, should pro^o the urgent necessity of keeping a watchful eye on the Crown lands, and of exercising the greatest care in dealing with every acre. PROCEESS OF LAND SETTLEMENT. Respocting the land administration, he found that 3,071 selectors had during the past year taken up land under the various disposal systems, that being an increase of 552 selectors on tho number for the previous yoar, and of 651 selectors for the year 1890-91. Excluding town and village lands and other small areas and small grazing runs and pastoral runs, the actual results showed that 416,800 acres had boon disposed of during the past year to 2,315 selectors, whereas in 1890-91, 425,500 acres were disposed of to 1,616 selectors, and in the preceding year 369,000 acrea to 1,350 selectors. Very Grroneous statements had been made regarding the village settlement system inaugurated by Mr Ballance six years ago. It had boon a3sortßd that the system was not a complete success, bub whilothe returns for the North Island were nob yob complete, those for tho South Island showed that the system had bean a great success, and much more would have been accomplished by the Government it they had been able to obtain suitable land in suitable localities. For the period ending March the 31st last tho number of settlors' under the system in the South Island was 368, occupying an area of 8,284 acres, and the annual rent, including interest on advances, was £1,192. The amount) advanced fco settlors from tho commencement of the system to the present) time was £5,143, and the Government) were only liable for further advances to the amount of £362. Tho total payments made by settlers from the commencement of the system was £5,195. The arrears at the close of the year amounted to £271, and tho value of improvements was £23,824; so that if the sum advanced by the Government were deducted there remained the sum of £18,681, representing tho acbual value of the improvements, and he had no doubt the returns tor the North Island would be equally encouraging. THE FARM SYSTEM. Another system which ho hoped to see bear good truib, was the improved farm system which ho was now initiating, and for which he had sob aside blocks of land in various parts of the colony. Explaining the mode of working the system, he said that on a certain area—say one-third or one-fourth of each block—the Government, were to fell and burn tha bush, and make decent roads to open up the land, and when that was dono the men who had been employed in clearing it would be allowed to Eolect land for homesteads for themselves on tho improved block. The cost of improvements would be added to the original value of tho land, and selectors would be asked to pay 4 per cent, interest of the total cost. To give them a start, they could geb one year's work in improving the next block, and provision would be made to introduce a number of men who would be given some advantages for another year, and so until the whole block was improved. PURCHASE OF LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. Referring to the Land for Settlement Acb passed last session, he said that the Board of Commissioners, whose duty it was to inspect and value the properties offered for sale and report to the Minister, had recommended pieces of land, comprising a total ar°a of 1,027 acres, near Timaru, and he wis now negotiating with tho owners for tho purchase of these properties. If he found he could nob get land for settlement is districts whero it was much required, it would be hia duty to endeavour to get the Act amended so as to enable the Crown to take land if necessary for settlement, and for a fair value to be fixed by arbitration proceedings. J[JDGE COUOLLY AND THE DUMMI'ISM CASKS. Referring to dummyism, the Minister said that his manner ot dealing with that ovil had drawn upon him the severest criticism of the Tory preas throughout the colony This task had been a mosb difficult one inasmuch as in mosb cases the employers of dummies were people in good social position. With respect to the recent prosecutions in the Taranak, land districb, the Solicitor-General, AttorneyAnnoml. and another eminent lawyer all

some of the cases. He would nob have referred to this matter were ib nob for tho fact that Mr Justice Conolly, in his charge to the jury, had employed language which it was to be regretted should havo been used by any judge of the Supremo Courb. He regretted having to speak of a judge of the Supreme Court "in any way derogatory to so high a servant of the Crown. He held for the Supremo Courb Bench bhe highesb veneration ; and even the remarks which had fallen from Mr Justice Conolly did not lessen hid respect for the judges, nor did he wish to say anything which might be construed into a desire to dictate to, or influence the rulings of, the Supreme Court, as he always regarded the Supreme Courb Bench as one of the greatest privileges colonists enjoyed. But when he found judges making use of the Bench as a political platform to administer an undeserved rebuke to the Minister of Lands, ib was his duty to protect himself. Mr Coiaolly had taken a solemn oath to uphold and administer the laws of the colony, and he (the speaker) in j taking office as a member of the Executive Council, had, on his p^rfc, taken a solemn ! oath to protect the interests of tho colony and uphold its laws ; aud he claimed thab' he was doing his duty in pfosecubing in these cases. Thab being so, he thought i Judge Conolly had gone oub of his way when he eaid ib was mosb discreditable to all parties bhab bhe Governmenb should send a man down as an auditor, and, in_ facb, employ him as a private detecbive. The officer in question had been sent by tho Government for the very purpose ot endeavouring to find out whether there was any truth in tho statements regarding evasions of the Act, and it was clearly his duty to report to bhe Government, and ; also the duty of the Government to tako action. They found, nob only that these law-breakers had tho sympathy of a large number of persons of high social position, but they also found * a judge_ of the Supreme Court acting in the capacity of an apologist, advocate, and special pleader, for dummies. THE CHEVIOT ESTATE. Regarding the purchase of the Cheviot esbato, he assured the meeting that bhe Governmenb had taken every precaution before deciding in the matter, and that they had received full value for the money. From his own inspection of the estate, he was convinced it would turn oub a first-rate speculation for the colony. He had no hesitation in Baying bhab by the time ib waa finally disposed of, ib would yield full interesb on bhe money involved, and a fair percentage to meet all risks. He could assure the members of the Opposition and bhe Tory preas that the Governmenb were prepared for the closest investigation into the whole transaction. Hia own opinion was that the real difficulty would be to provide land on. the Choviot estate for all those who would be applicants. FUTURE POLICY. While he was not prepared to go into a detailed exposition of the policy which the Governmenb intended to pursue in tho future, he might state generally that they intended to carry on the policy of tho Ballance Government. They intended to continue the policy of no borrowing in the London market/ and they would bo prepared to submit to Parliament ab bhe proper time proposals enabling the affairs of bho colony to bo carried on without revorting to tho old system of borrowing. The improvement "of the land and income tax policy, by increasing the amount of exemption Of improvements on land as soon as thoy could possibly afford to do so, would be one of their first Considerations when laying down the lines of finance for bhe nexb year. They intended to carry on the existing policy of land settlement It was nob bhe intention of the Governmenb to abolish the Railway Commissioners, but they did think tbab one of the Commissioners should have a seat in Parliament and be responsible to the House for the largo expenditure of nearly three-quarters of a million of tha taxpayers" money. Thi3 could bo effected without interfering with the management:, or bringing bhe railways under political control. As to tho Obftgo Central Railway, bhoy had made provision to complete it to Hyde, and bhey hoped next session bo bo able to provide tor carrying it further. In conclusion, he claimed that he^ and his colleagues wero earnest men, anxious to perform their respective duties well, and faithfully acb their part in moulding tho destinies of the country. In answer to a question, Mr McKonzio said the Government would not alter the Customs bariff in the ensuing session. A vote of thanks for the address and confidence in Mr McKenzio and the Ministry, was carried amid applauso. The Mayor was directed to convoy to Mrs Ballance the sympathy of the meeting in her bereavement.