LAND SETTLEMENT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16326, 23 August 1913, Page 12

LAND SETTLEMENT.

4. UNDER,TWO FLAGS. LIBERALISM AND REFORM COMPARED. WHAT THE “TEN MINUTES MINISTRY” DID. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, August 22. While tho discussion on the first item of tho Estimates was in progress to(night tho member for Avon took the Minister of Lands to task over his I land ■ for settlements accounts. Mr Russell pointed out that notwithstanding Mr Massey’s assurance that tho Reform policy was “settlement, more settlement, and still moro settlement,” the actual expenditure of the Department had been £IOO,OOO less than was ! granted last year by Parliament at 1 the special request of the Minister. Such figures required explanation. How, lio asked, did they compare with tho settlement figures of the two years prior to the Massey Administration. In 1911 a total of 18,961,000 acres were leased to Crown tenants, while in 1912, the last year of the Ward Government, the total rose to 19,391,000 acres, an increase of 430,000 acres. In the first ye'ar of the “ settlement, more settlement and still more settlement ” Government tho acreage was 19,544,000, an increase of only 153,000 acres. A 9 for tenants, in 1911 they numbered 27,496, and in 1912 thev had increased by 9/0. In 1913 tho increase was 1066, only 96 greater than the increase of the Ward Government’s last year. As to the position in Hawke’s Bay, so proudly referred to by tho member for Waipawa, in 1911-12 the- Ward Government purchased £329,000 worth, representing 45,000 acres, -while the “ Ten j Minutes” Government—“ That is what I believe the Prime Minister called it,” added Mr Russell, amid laughter and j cries of “Yes, yes” the “Ten : Minutes” Government spent £77,000 and purchased 10,307 acres in Hawke s Bay. “ And what did the Massey Govern- | ment do in n whole year under the ‘settlement, more settlement,- and still more settlement’ policyP” asked tho member for Avon,, “ They spent £76,000 and purchased 16,000 acres. “As • a matter of fact,” added the member for Avon, “in order to prove their argument under the graduated tax for bursting up the big - estates they have to go back to the Ward Government.” (Opposition applause.) ! A member: No dry rot there. ! (Laughter.) i The Prime Minister, caught . both - ways, remarked that if they spent the amount voted by Parliament last year j the lion, member would accuse the Gov- | ernment of extravagance. If the 1 amount voted was not spent, then he | accused them of not carrying out their policy. , ' Mr Russell: Yes, we catch you both ways. (Loud laughter.) Mr Massey, referring to the increase of 1066 in ’ the number, of Crown tenants this year, remarked : “ Significant figures, 1066 is associated with the coming of William the Conqueror.” (Roars of laughter.) Mr Payne: Yes, and the Battle of the Boyne comes next year. (Loud laughter.) Mr Massey: Don’t you make any mistake. I am going to put it up to you. Mr Payne: There will be boiling water then. (Further merriment.) The Prime Minister said that the small apparent increase in the number of tenants was owing to the fact that 1 he had refused to renew the tenancies . of grazing leases or licenses pending the legislation which would bo introduced in the course of the next few j •weeks. The difference in increase would, however, bo much more obvious I next year. As to the £IOO,OOO, he re- | minded members that the vote had to provide for requirements to June 30 instead of March 31, which accounted for 25 per cent. Besides this an abnormal sum came in also in the way of credits during the financial year, amounting to £48,999, while the expenditure of administration was reduced. It was also difficult to get the necessary surveyors when they first wanted them. Mr Forbes exnressed the hope that the Land Bill would be brought down early and be so framed as to dismiss land legislation for some years to come. The Prime Minister assured Mr Forbes that the Bill would be brought down in time to enable both Houses j to give it thorough consideration and make any proposals they thought fit.