SOUTH CANTERBURY MATTERS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17808, 6 July 1923, Page 15

SOUTH CANTERBURY MATTERS.

QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. THE RECENT LAND BALLOT. (kpsciai. to "the pbess.") WELLINGTON, July 5. In the House of Representatives today, replying to Mr Burnett's question about the recent land ballot for a South Canterbury run, the ActingMinister of Lands stated: If of sufficient importance, ballots have teen, and can be, held at Timaru. In the. case referred to, only one pastoral run was opened. Half of the applicants from Timaru were examined by Mr Duvid Stoweil, a member of the Land Board resident at Timaru, and the other local applicants could have been treated similarly. This is the practice in vogue for some time past, and it has been found to work satisfacv' torily. The expanse of the whole Board; meeting at Tirmiru to examine applicants for one run does not seem justified. . , Referring to this subject in -he House to-day, Mr Burnett said that some applicants had to go a Initialed miles to Chnstchurch «t considerable expense. He maintained that ballots should 1m held in the districts whero the hand was. Another point was that the Land Board in this ens© aVoided -at the last moment that only returned soldiers could go to the b.nllot, so that many prospective tenants were turned down, and not allowed to participate in the ballot.

Dairy Stock Auctions.. In regard to 'Mr Burnett's request to have drafts of Government-bred dairy stock auctioned in the South Island, the Minister'of Agriculture said: The request cannot be acceded.to but to meet the ca&e of South Hand buyers, arrangements have been mado that pedigree stock purchased at the Central Development Farm, Wernroa, are delivered at Lyttelton, Picton, or Nelson wharve3, while in the case of the Ruakura Farm of Instruction, at Hamilton, delivery is made at Auckland or Wellington, as may be desired. To-day Mr Burnett stressed the necessity of the Government doing all it could to assist the dairy industry in the South Island, where" in many districts it was in its infancy. Studholme Railway Question. Replying to a question by Mi Bitchener this Minister of Railways said: It is recognised that the facilities at Studholme Junction are short of requirements, and a scheme of reorganisation has been discussed and plans prepared, but owing to the large number of urgent and ©ssentjal works requiring attention, it has' not been practicable up to the present time to, undertake the work 'at Stud lolme Junction. It is, however, intended to put it in hand as soon as a favourable opportunity presents itself and funds are available, but I regret I cannot fix any date on which the work can he commenced. Commenting upon this favourable reply, Mr Bitchener referred to the «nifiilHke pace of the afternoon train from Oamaru, which left at 3.30 p.m. and covered only a few mike by 6 rijn. .I* took, he said, an hour and a quarter to travel the last six miles, though the track was level and there was only cne stopping-plaos. The delay, was caused by the want of accommodation for trains at Studholme Junction.