ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER FOR LANDS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5508, 24 April 1889, Page 3

ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER FOR LANDS.

InvkeuaeoiUj, This day.

The Hon. Mr. Richardson, Minister for Luiids, addressed the Matnura electors at Wyndham on Monday night, receiving a vote of thanks and confidence. His speech dealt chittly with the land question. Ho expressed the belief that the time would airivv ere long when the Lands Act would be consolidated, in which ease the deferred - payment system might bo abolished, perpetual leasing answering all purposes. The land sold lust year was more thin double the average of that of the fjur preceding years, and settlement was being developed at a reduction in the cost of administration. The Milliliter said none had the interest of settlement more at heart than he, but he would not consent to drive onu ilock of sheep oil the land in order to put another on. In this connection he referred to tho agitation to get a run ut Kurow, on the Waitaki river, cut up into small grazing runs. The Government did this, but the result had been a OHsof revenue without a singlo additional tattler iroiug on the laud. He explained he was responsible for the mistake made in tho telegram re withdrawal of runs 28 and 28a, but "aid the report which came in after the sale proved that if the runs had been withdrawn they would not have sold so well as they did, apart from the fact that they were quite unsuitable for agricultural purposes. The Minister hoped the economy in administration would result in a still larger surplus next year, and so warrant a reduction of taxation.