DEPUTATIONS TO THE PREMIER.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11528, 10 March 1903, Page 5

DEPUTATIONS TO THE PREMIER.

A MORE VIGOROUS POLICY URGED

A deputation of Canterbury members of the Hou*e of Representatives was introduced to the Premier at Warner's 'Hotel 1.i.-t 1.i.1i: by .Mr "id E. Taylor, M.H.R., and bto-ght under his notice the necessity for a. more vigorous land (settlement policy in this provincial district. In addition to .Mr Taylor there were present Sir William Steward (Waitaki). Me-*rs H. G. Lit and T. H. Davey v Chri_t church). W. W. Tanner (Avon), G. Witty {Riccarton), CLewis (Courtenay), ti. Laurenson (Lyttelton), and J. McLa.-lilan (Ashburton).

Mr Taylor, in ■nirodueh.g the deputation. taid that at a conference «f Cauterbury rnen.bers it. wa_ decided to take action, outside of parly considerations, on the quc-lioi's ol hind settlement Mid of v.tilway tate.s. M- Laureivon was- cliaiiman of the sub-commit tie that dealt with the question of land settlement.

Mr Laurenson r-aid the., recognised that of the £2.4.0.255 expended on the purchase of laud- in the colony, £358,297 had been spout in acquirinj estate, in Canterbury, exiliisive vi' Cheviot.

Mr Tanneri Which is not in Canttibury. Mr Laitrensou, continuing, (said that thiaigli Canterbury is in a prosperous condition, it v.-a** unable to r-.tain its population, and in five* y .'.:■ the population, outside of C:oisui'i::\h. h.'..l only ir.cre_J.ed by 1400, or a, naedan over 1 per cent., whilst in tin- prov.r.ee of Auckland, in tne same period, ili-e nicie'.-e v. ai? 15 per cent., in i'aranaki 22 per cen-... and in Wellington 14 per cent. He drew attention to the fact tiiat Banks Peninsula was peculiarly ada[>ted for .mail farmer., but that at present, the population was four hundred less than it was 'twenty-one years ago. He also referred to the aggregation _of ku-ge. estates on the Peninsula, mentioning _peciallv Okaiu'.s and Pigeon Bays. He alluded to the large sums .pent on roads, bridges and public buildings in other parts of the colony—an expenditure they did not complain of," but of which Canterbury only received a much smaller amount than that spent in an-v other provincial district. The Government could help Canterbury by purchasing and cutting up large estate*, and he wished to emphasise the desite of every man in Cantetbury for tlie clcser settlement of the laud. He pointed out that ih-spite the progressive land tax, the aggre gation of large estates continued in the dieMr Seddon said he would like to hear particulars of this. Mr Ell said that according to a return pIK-e.l before Parliament the number of (■■-.; alts over a certain large acreage had increased from eleven in 1891 to eighteen in 1900. , . _ «. Sir William Steward said that just at present land was at d high value, and it was not the best time for tlie Government to acquire land. Nevertheless there were fomo estates which could be acquired at a reasonable price, and the names of these would be submitted to the Premier by the .liferent members. . Mr Lewis referred to the necessity tor providing land for farm labourers _in the vic't itv of farms and runs, and said thai the money expended in this direction would prove move remunerative than if spent in acquiring and settling larger areas. Mr McLacb'an held that it was not wise to force the hands of the Government at present owinsf to the high value of land. The Premier, in reply, said ho was entity with the, deputation with regard to the ''acquiring of land in Canterbury for but they must not forget that of tii<- large estates existing there was a considerable area which was noT, and never -'■o-'ld be, tit for close settlement. In some cvot it would cost from £2000 to £3000 to pdue earh family en the land when the pr'C-e paid lor an estate was high. Thefa were however, some large areas that could Ik- ■•iqiihed under favourable circumstances, but there was not much land suitable for cutting up into farms of lTum 100 to 150 a'-rcs " He expressed his agreement with the paint mentioned by Mr Lewis, and considered the principle a sound one. They had asked Km to visit the Peninsula, and he would ii.'.v? <.'r.-at pleasure in doing on. j;.. :p.e!.t;o:.<_ that he had been do-i-i"- the v.o-.k in connection with the r.ai.ds :(>'■ :-.'.iieiiiLiil- Department, with tlie. c.bii-ct of getting land and putting peopls "on it. The machine, in..this r..pect, had la'c-n going along a bit slow, and wanted the pace quickened, and he thought wiieii they saw the- returns for tho v.-ar they would find that it had been .-nickered. He intended (sending an olfio-r of the Land Purchase Department over the Peninsula before he visited it.. Regarding Mr MeLachlan's remarks, he said there was a _reat deal in them, but he did not think they had reached the top of land values. In this respect he mentioned that at present the Valuation Department was undervalueing land from 33 per cent, to 50 per cent. Consequently the Government would have to exercise great care in purchasing estates, but at the same lime they must run some risks. He was glad to tell them llwt the Highfield Estate of 52.000 acres had b.-en purchased by the Government. Mi* Taylor asked if a committee from th. conference of members could accotnji'iny the officer of the Land Purchase Department when he visited the Peninsula. Tin- Premier said he preferred to keep Government officers clear of politics. Sir William Steward extended a cordial invitation to the Premier to visit South Canterbury. 'liiy Premier said he would do so probably b-forG l\ir!i;-nu-ni met.