Mr Rees in England.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 220, 10 November 1888, Page 2

Mr Rees in England.

The London correspondent of the New Zealand Herald writes by last mail: —This gentleman has altered his plans a little since I last wrote. He has been in consultation with some gentlemen connected with the Government, and has been strongly advised not to make a tour of explanation in Soot, land at the present time, but to await an opportunity of presenting his scheme before the Parliamentary Committee, and he has been promised facilities for doing this during the first week in November. He has accepted this advice, the more especially as it is upheld by the gentleman with whom he is acting, and in daily consultation on business matters. A meeting of the committee was held on Tuesday, and Mr Rees submitted a very long draft prospectus, in which the objects of the company, and fts advantages and profits, were divulged and explained. The committee considered it was too diffuse, and that, in fact, it would be better for being “ boiled down, ” and a sub-committee was appointed to perform this process in conjunction with Mr Rees. When this is done it will be re-submitted to the General Committee and, if adopted, will be then brought before the notice of the gentlemen whom the committee are hoping to interest as chairman and directors. There is a great amount interest felt in the Bqhen;e, and some very sanguine opinions expressed as to its feasibility. Mr Rees seems able to oombat the objections which are urged to it, and to suggest means of overcoming the difficulties which are apprehended. It is not likely that the crofters scheme, to which I alluded in my last letter, will be submitted as a separate undertaking. When the idea of floating a separate company to work the project was mooted, Wi Pere, the Maori chief, very sensibly remarked that it would not add to tl;e confidence which the Maoris would feel in the venture, as they would be placed in the position of not knowing exactly with whom they had to deal. This was thought by the committee to be a valid objection, and now the crofters scheme will be embodied as part of the original undertaking, though it is possible that if Scotland de ires to have a separate committee for that branch of the undertaking, her request may be conceded. Mr Rees has had an interview with Earl Granville, who seemed to be interested in the concern, and has accepted a copy of Mr Bees’ book, “ Poverty and Plenty,” in which he develops the economic arguments which he thinks support l;is scheme. Earl Granville has promised to write to him when he has perused the book,