DEPUTATIONS TO THE PREMIER.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6628, 20 December 1886, Page 3

DEPUTATIONS TO THE PREMIER.

[fRBSS ASSOCIATION TBUMBAK.] DUNEDIN, December 18. Three deputations waited on the Premier to-day. Tue first was from the Presbyterian body, representing the hardship of having the widows and orphans' and aged miniecers , funds subjected to the property tiz. The Premier pointed out that Government had so control over the Property Tax Officer, who, if he neglected to collect the tax where it ebonld be, could be held personally liable by the Audit Officer. The second deputation represented the hardship of email freeholders being debarred from selecting land under the homestead Bystem. The Premier said the Government could not alter the law without Parliamentary sanction. He thought that for people with email means the village settlement system offered far moie facilities, as Government helped the settler to build a house up to £25, and empioyed him in doing it. He was in favor of extending the area under the village settlement system, so that a family could have as much as 100 or 250 acres of rough land, but he would not agree to any modification of the homestead syetem, as he did not think any good could come out of the Bystem. The third deputation asked that immigration barracks ba handed over, to provide additional accommodation in connection with the Benevolent Institution, pointing out that they were at their wits' end to supply accommodation. The Premier said he was against giving over the barracks, as they did not know when they would be wanted for immigrants. Hβ suggested that they should adopt the boarding out system, or if the Charitable Aid Boazd raised half the cost of a building, Government would give the other half.