THE LAND QUESTION.

Mataura Ensign, 18 September 1906, Page 2

THE LAND QUESTION.

SPEECH BY MR McNAB. "THERE'S BOUND TO BE A ROW." Per United Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. K Speaking nt the banquet to Mr ./. Stevens, M.H.8., at Shannon, the Hon. R. Mc.Vab said the Ministry had determined that it should never happen again that there should be a man in tho State who put himself into an early grave simply to serve New Zealand. The present Ministry had resolved that the load sliould be <Y|ually distributed among the members comprising the Cabinet. Speaking of agriculture, the lion, gentleman said the Government intended to go into the whole question of experimental stations and arrange them according to some proper classification. Referj rim* to the ilax industry, lie said he believed that when it got a proper start and was properly treated it would be one of the greatest industries not only in New Zealand but in the Soul'deni Hemisphere. The speaker discussed the land proposals at length, and declared they would piny an important part in the settlement of the State. The people were determined to have the lands settled. He thought the time was rapidly passing when people would come north in trains and sec large properties with no settlement. Such settlement would induce and promote traffic along the railway lines and they would not require to expend so much money mi

roads unci bridges us was necessitated by tin; opening up of remote lands, and altogether the settlement of these areas would be more productive than by ffoinjf into tlie back-blocks. Any Government would liav<; been compelled to face the problem of providing land out of largo private estates to lueet the demand for the freehold. There was bound to bo a row when that question was touched on, but nearly all great problems hud now reached such an acute stage that any Government which faced them was ''bound to have a row." Taking that view of thinsrs, the Government thought it advisable to face the whole lot at once, anil let one big; row do for the lot.

Jlr Stevens dwlaml himself u fiv holder, with limitation of areu.