LAND SETTLEMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10723, 22 October 1928, Page 8

LAND SETTLEMENT.

MINISTER’S COMMENT ON UNITED PARTY

NOT CAPABLE OF TACKLING ' QUESTION

ATTACK ON W. .T. POLSON

DETERIORATION OF HUGE AREAS DENIED

tPieaa Association->

CARTERTON, Oct. 19. The Hon. A, D. McLeod, Minister of Lands, addressed electors at Greytowu last night. He stated that the Prime Minister outlined the Reform manifesto at Christchurch, and he would do his best to carry it out. He considered that uone of the United Party, apart from Messrs. Forbes and E. A. Ransom, knew anything about land settlement. Therefore, the party was not capable of tackling the question. The Minister strongly attacked Mr W. J, Poison, and said ho considered he spoke with his tongue in his cheek when lie said lie was not; aware that thq Farmers’ _ Union was being made use of financially for direct party purposes. He considered that Mr Poison had changed his attitude in regard to the compulsory clauses of the dairy control lcgislation, and now wanted to repeal the compulsory clauses. Regarding unoccupied, lands, where was Mr Poison to-day in his statement that it was his desire to preserve the financial credit _of the country when he joined publicly with others in broadcasting a deliberate misstatement to follow a first, set goiug by Mr A. E. Robinson, of Farming First, to the effect that during Reform’s administration over--4.000,C00 acres af occupied land had gone back to fern, scrub, and second growth This was absolutely devoid of truth. When Reform first took office all the occupied land described amounted to well over 4,000,000 acres. 13F 1927 it was reduced to 3,500,000 acres, and. thereafter the labor scarcity caused by the war began to show its effect on second and third class lands, and the slump in 1920-21 added further difficulties. Since 1927 there bad been added to occupied lands at the end of 1927 no less than 875.000 acres, which, prior to occupation. was classed as being either scrub, fern or bush land. Notwithstanding this the main reversion which had taken place la;- in the country eastward of Taranaki to the Main ' Trunk line northwards from the Wanganui river, towards Raglan. The. main point was that lands classified as being under scrub, fern and second growth were no greater to-day than at the time Reform first took office.

WARD GOVERNMENT BLAMED FOR REVERTED LANDS

“Let me deal now with the socalled deteriorated lands”, said Mr McLeod. He preferred to call them reverted lands* These lands were first settled in the Ward administration’s term of office by throwing haphazard into unroaded, trackless, bush lands hundreds of men and women and taking them to face difficulties which most of the would-be settlers to-day would not consider undertaking for a moment in tho areas concerned. He instanced the activity of'til© Government since the war in giving relief by a reduction of rental and interest remissions to Crown tenants.

FARMING NOT REACHED SATURATION POINT

Tie refuted completely tho report that ho stated in Auckland that farming had reached saturation point. This applied solely in respect to small holdings for poultry, vegetables, pigs, bees, etc., which the local market was unable to consume.

The Government was endeavouring by means of a subsidy, to establish a payable export market.

OPPOSITION TO COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF LARGE ESTATES

The Minister touched mi pumice lands and native problems, maintaining that new •settlement had gone on, 200,000 acres being occupied. He completely refuted allegations that settlers' were forced off their holdings as the result of the Reform administration. He dealt also with soldiers’ 1 repatriation and gratuities. Regarding large sheep owners, he stated that he did not hold a special brief for them, and be believed that the sooner some of the bigger holdings were cut up the better for the country, hut he did not believe in taking away from any man that which he held legally, or had fairly earned.

ASTOUNDED AT SIR J. WARD'S FINANCIAL PROPOSALS

He defended the increase in public taxation, attributing it to the war debt, war pensions, increased educational costs, and public health. He was astounded at Sir Joseph Ward’s financial, proposals, and wondered if they were written for him by irresponsibles: withou/t financial knowledge. To talk of raising money by an issue of bonds up to £70,000,000, and then in the next few years having to raise another £30,000.000 to meet maturing loans was all bunkum . At the close of .the address a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speaker.