THE ACTING-PREMIER AT CHEVIOT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 70, 23 March 1907, Page 5

THE ACTING-PREMIER AT CHEVIOT.

[St SELEGRAMr. — KtESS ASSOCIATION.! CHEVIOT, 22nd March. Speaking at a smoke concert at Uhcviot last night, tho Hon W. 'HallJones said it was a misrepresentation to say he had promised to drive the first pile of the \Vai?u bridge when he came to the Cheviot show. He had merely said he hoped to do so. His hopes had not been fulfilled, partly for financial reasons and partly because deviations in the proposed WaiparaBlenheim railway route had been suggested, and it would be necessary to have tho proposed new route surveyed. Ho thought the plansxilready appioved would be found ths best, but it was his duty to take every precaution against a mistake. He suggested that the local bodies should contribute towards the cost of the biidge. Tho Minister again referred to Mr. Rutherford's attack on the Land Bill, and quoted the late Mr. Rolleston as proposing that no Cjsrfwn lands should be sold. He said he could name members of the Opposition who supported that proposal, but who now opposed the endowment clauses of the present Land Bill. Tho opening of thousands of acres of Maori land for settlement as a result of the present commission would give tho colony a great move forward, as would be seen within the next few months. Sir. Rutherford, M.H.R., professed himself satisfied with the Ministerial declaration regarding the Waiau bridge, but again criticised the Land Bill.