HON. R. M'KENZIE AT MASTERTON

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 625, 30 September 1909, Page 8

HON. R. M'KENZIE AT MASTERTON

', ;.■'''-,', ',", ITTO DkPUTATIONS. A 'r ■'■ :.■''■■' BTJILDINGS AND LAND MATTERS. ; IBy Teleirapn.-BpeeUl Correspondent.) '■«.' Masterton, September 29."' r The Hon. R. M'Kenzio (Minister for Publio t.Works) was waited upon this moraine by the ;-Mayor (Mr. P. L. Boilings) and Mr. Pauling, who were introduced, by Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.P. 'The.party visited the site of the proposed new :conrthouse, and then drove out to ■ the northern* .approach,''.- where' .the proposed ments ..were" explained'; to. the' Minister, and'a . 'suggestion .was made..that .'the.-; Government ' should subsidise : the works.'.' An inspection was ; , also-made. of. the old courthouse,-Mr. Hollings pointing put .'the inadequacy at the building for its, purpose., It.wa's'mehtibhed also that;'.when the new'courthouse was erected,'a few altera.would be. required at the police;station.■ The;necessity for .public buildings was also' .touched.upon,:and-it-was,submitted' that the rent 'how paid for the: number'of 'offices ocWpied ;by Departments 'in different-parts of the town would coyer. more..,than the'interest on a ;good; ; buil'ding.v. .Snch 'a; building would, ,in addition,,be of "great, convenience ; to the.ipublib as,'"under.the present conditions;-sett!ers ! hav'-' ■ing -business ■ to. do'either' with the Stock'De--partmerit,. : land and" Survey Department;' Labour:office,, or the registrar had some' difficulty'in discovering ,where the respective offices were 1 situated.. -,■ •..-,.,'..•. * ■': Mr... M*Kenzie . the matters 'brought' under' 'his'.'notice ;'would'.'receive' due consideration;'''.:'';'.r\ : -'- :;-"•'■': :' A deputetiori':ironT-the Masterton Closer Settlement league also, waited .on the Minister in the Borough* Council Chambers,, and urged liponhim the necessity, of'subdividing- some of :.tne large estates in the district. -'■:■ .•■•■■ :.-.■ The Mayor (Mr. P.L. Hollings) introduced •the deputation, and stated'that Masterton and . district suffered, seriously.from the fact that jland whioh was eminently 'suitable for closer ■ settlement was held in large blocks^■■'■: i- ' Mr. ,'lV'.^P.;:Si'nlpso , n; stated,' that'.the" district had been;;very unjustly treated in comparison -with; other . .. '■ :-> ! , ,-j '•'' Messrs.-Bwmgtnnsßrown/and Chapman also urged'.upon the Minister', the vital importance of dbser settlement to the district. '.'. . ..Mr.Hogs stated thai'ari'agitation had been going on for over 20 .years, and a number of •large had been inspected. The'matter :hrtd.;neen, brought under the notice-of the:late ■Mr.: Seddon ~again-,-'and again, and ; also'' the members of the Land Board. He (Mr. Hogg) had;.written' volumes, of, letters,., but nothing had.resulted.. ...~ ; v '' ', '.-, ■".' -'v.'*: : .-.■•'|. ; Mr'.- M'Kenzie stated, that, he .would.convey the representations made,to him to the Minister'in: charge of. the Land Purohase Department. If land was-available at a price which would'enable those who settled upon'.it to make,a'living,'he;had no doubt.that the Gov- - ernnient'-would be' willing to take'it over, but they were not goirig",to pay.Exorbitant prices.' "