PREMIER SATISFIED.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2113, 2 April 1914, Page 6

PREMIER SATISFIED.

MUCK GROUND-.GAINED.

CONFIDENT AS TO ELECTIONS.

(Bj Tebßtapli.-Bpcclnl. CorrosDondcnD Clulstohuroh, April 1. Tlio I'rimo Minister, who passed through Cliristclmrch tliis evening on his wav to Wellington, expressed himself as'being highly pleased with the very lengthy tour of tho South Island whfeh ho has just completed. "Without saying much on tho political side of things," ho said, "it is right to say this, that I nni quito'satisfied that 'tlio Government has gained ground very considerably .luring the hist 18 months. In all of tlio districts which I visited I mot with very good receptions, and I am confident that the result of tlio election at'the end of tlio year will bo to provo that tho opinion I have expressed is correct." As Mr.' Mnssey hiid travelled in overy province of tho South' Island with tho exception of Southland, he was asJkcd to summarise his impressions of their stato and needs. Tho province that needed most attention, ho said, was Wcstland. ' It was now in a traiisi-. tion stage. In tho past it had been dependent to a very great extent upon .tho mining industry, but now in many places, agriculture was taking its placo. There wero numbers of fcrtflo valleys on tho "West Coast that were particularly suitable for dairying and tho hills, when cleared, would make very good pastoral country. Unfortunately perhaps from the farmer's point of view, tho bush was very heavy'and very difficult to clear, but energy and industry wore already telling, and in sevoral places butter factories had been established, and wero doing well.

A Land Laws Commission. Tho land laws on tlio West Coast," continued Mr. Massey, were exceedingly complicated) and settlement was not encouraged as it ought to lie, as tho mining' regulations interfered very seriously with tho possibilities of giving. a good tenure to the settlers. ,He realised that something must •be done, which, while giving the miners all , necessary protection, and retaining for them their present privileges, would ''give settlers that security of tenure for which they were asking. "I think it will be necessary, , -' he added, "to appoint a commission to straighten out the tangle which at present obtains in the land laws and land regulations as applied to Westland."

Prosperous Marlbo>-ougfi and Nelson."A regular rush,"; was tho phraso used by Mr. Massey ito describe the,, attention now being ''given to lands in Nelson suitable for apple growing. Hundreds of acres $vere being planted with apple trees, and ; the fciiit-growcrs were confident' that they-Would find a good market for their produce. Marlborough 'was developing steadily, and was also giving speckil' attention to fruit-growing. The.hill country seemed to bo , improving in its stock-carrying capacity, and , both , agriculturists and pastornlietsj as well .as fruit-growers, were in fine heart for the future.

Mr. Massey will spend some . littlo time in Wellington in the transaction of Departmental work before proceeding, to Auckland, where he must visit beforo the roads, become bad at the approach of winter.