MR. MASSEY ON ENDOWMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1197, 4 August 1911, Page 4

MR. MASSEY ON ENDOWMENTS.

«• THE POSITION IN A NUTSHELL. Iu an interview last evening, Mr. Mas< sev made reference tti the position taken up by. himself and his parly in reference to the question of National Endowments. K lias never been suggested, lie said, or for one moment thought of, that any of the endowments at present profitably used, such as the Canterbury Endowments, should bo disposed of or exchanged for other lands, but there is this difficulty: Hint in the North Island, in places, there nro lands that have been .set nsido in past years for endowments that aro utIcrly 'unsuitable for that purpose. They remain unoccupied, and, fo fnr us uiiyono is able to judge, they arc not likely ifS occupied by wttlers, unless b?tter inducements can be offered, particularly in the way of security of tenure. It has therefore been suggested on move than ono occasion that instead of allowing siich lands to remain unocenpird. sutlers should be induced to occupy Iho land with the right of purchase, the muneys received for such lands to bo subsequently usrd for the purchase of land suitable for endowments in town or suburban district*, Piieh land to remain lor ever the property of the Slate. The suggestion referred to has Konipl-imes been twisted into n slatcnient that the Opposition is in favour or di?i»sins of the endowments Reiiera ly. "I can oulv say," added Mr. MaSs-:y, thai such st-tlcmenis, whether made by editors siinnorlins tho Ciovcrnment. or by memijcrs supporting the tiovernment, are contrary to fact."