Address by Minister for Lands

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2437, 27 May 1893, Page 2

Address by Minister for Lands

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

PALAiERSTON S., May 27. The Minister for Lands addressed bis constituents last night. He claimed tbat the Government were entitled to credit for the prosperous condition of the oolony through the policy of economy. He said the oolony possessed a mor6 liberal Land Act than any other British oolony. Ho maintained that a Crown grant should always be respected, and' that no one should have to Rive up for settlement property acquired under the land laws of the country without being folly compensated for any loss they might sustain. He also maintained that where bonafide settlement was necessary for the interest of the country tbe demand for land must be met by repurchase of land already disposed of. As he travelled through various parts of colony his eyes had been considerably opened regarding the way in which large estates were obstructing settlement. 446,800 acres had been disposed of during tbe past year to 2845 selectors; whereas in 1890, 91,425,500 acred had bpen disposed of to 1616 selectors, and in tbe preceding year 369,009 acres to 1350 selectors. Referring to the Land for Settlement Aot passed last session, he said that the Board of Commissioners, whose duty it was to inspect and value properties offered for sale and report to Minister, had recommended three pieces of land under the Aot, comprising a total area of 1027 acres near Timarn, and be was now negotiating with owners for the purohase of these properties. If he found ho could not get (and for settlement in districts where it was much required it would be hia duty to endeavour to get the Act amended so as to enable the Crown to take land if necessary for settlement for a fair value to be fixed by arbitration. He defended tbe purchase of the Cheviot estate, and laid he was not prepared to go into details of tbe exposition of tbe policy which the Government intended to pursue in the future. He might state generally that they intended to carry out the policy of tbe Ballance Government. Thay intended to continue the policy of not borrowing in tbe London market, and they would be prepared to submit to Parliament at the proper time proposals enabling tbe affairs of the colony to be carried on without reverting to the old Bystem of borrowing. An improvement on the Land and Income Tax polioy by increasing tbe amount of exemption of improvement on land, as soon as they could possibly afford to do so, would be one of tbe first considerations when laying down lines of finance for next year, and they intended to carry on the existing polioy of land settlement. It was not the intention of the Government to abolish the Railway Commissioners, but they did think one of the Commissioners should havn a seat in Parliament and be responsible to tho House for tbe very large expenditure of nearly three-quarters of a million of taxpayers' money. The Qtvernment woald not alter the Customs tariff during the coming sessioo. A vote of thanks and confidence to the member and Ministry was carried.