DOMINION AFFAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 29 July 1925, Page 9

DOMINION AFFAIRS.

PRIME' MINISTERS REVIEW. LiAjNiD SE/TfTLEMENT. AGRICULTUEIAL BANK INQUIRY. (BT£ TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATIONWELLINGTON, July 25. Addressing the annual conference' of the Dominion Panniers’ Union to-day, Mr. Coates (Prime Minister), alluding to the development of the poorer class 1 , of land and land development genenailly, said that this was a. matter for steady progress only ; he did not think it possible to rush matters. 'fheie were pants of New Zealand that could be developed by irrigation. .He alluded to Central Otago and other districts, and mentioned the success attained in certain districts. Although the work of settlement would be slow, yet in the course of five or six years, a different story would be told. Ais to other land suitable for small settlement, it would he the laint of the Government to work out a scheme under which ,success could he made by rfen who laboured for themselves, and an endeavour would be made to direct capital to carry, out the initial stages of development.. As to immigration, since the war New Zealand had been receiving about 10,000 immigrants a year, and speaking generally, the new arrivals were filling their positions fairly satisfactorily.

New Zealand to-day was exporting about 50,000 tons of cheese which wa.s used in Great Britain, also about onefourth of the butter consumed in that country. We had, however, very severe competition from competitors seeking to displace us on the British market. He said unhesitatingly that the operations of the Meat Board had already proved <a- -success, and there was no reason why the Dairy Board should not accomplish the same success. Alluding to the question of an agricultural bank, the Prime Minister said that the Government intended to send two men abroad to investigate and report on the matter, and it had invited the president of the Farmers’ Union to be one of the two- delegates

New Zealand must do her duty in finding room for immigrants from Great Britain, and lie appealed to fanners to use goods and material of British manufacture. It was the duty of everyone individually arid collectively to assist the Motherland now and for the years to come.