MINISTER FOR LANDS IN THE WAIKATO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13347, 29 November 1906, Page 6

MINISTER FOR LANDS IN THE WAIKATO.

VISIT TO EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. PROPOSED PROVISION FOR CADETS. SPEECH ON THE LAND BILL. ' - [BT t TELEQBAFH. —OWN BEPOBTEB.] - Hamilton, Wednesday. Thk Hon. ;R. * McNab, Minister «for Lands and Agriculture, paid his first visit to the Waikato to-day. Mr. McNab left Auckland by the eight o'clock train this morning, and proceeded to the Waeii-nga experimental farm in company with Messrs. A. Kidd, M.H.R., J. D. Ritchie (Secretary for Agriculture),, E. Clifton'..; (chief inspector of stock), and Signbr, Bragato (Government = ; viviculturist). The. ... Minister was shown round the. vineyards, which are looking very well just now, and he expressed himself as favourably impressed regarding the results of the work on the estate since its acquisition by the Department. * ,': The party subsequently joined the .express train, and: came on to* Hamilton, where the Minister was formally welcomed by Mr. J. S. -Bond (Mayor of Hamilton), Messrs. H. J. Greenslade, M.H.R. for Waikato, F. W. Mason, C. L. MacDiarmid, C. W. Davis, ami J. A. Young (members of the Borough Council), and S. 'P. Sims (town clerk). The Minister and party then drove to the Ruakura experimental station, where they were conducted over the farm by Messrs. Ritchie, Clifton, and Dibble (manager of the station).. Here the various sections of the work of the station, which is now looking at its bestin the full bloom of spring, were inspected. with keen interest by Mr. McNab. The experimental I grass and other plots were first visited, j and the poultry pens then came under rei view, the visitors being shown over this I portion of the estate by Mr. D. Hyde, j Government poultry expert. The incuba- [ tors were a source of interest, and the | apiary, where a large number- of hives of bees were seen to be improving the shining hour, also came in for a share of attention. • - A visit was afterwards paid to the flax ! plantation on the estate, and some time ; was spent there in examining the different stages of growth and the various varieties i' of phormiuiu tenax. Mr. McNab was ; specially interested in this portion of the work of the station. Since taking charge of his Department he has devoted.a great deal of attention to the question of the best means of. furthering the flax industry. A portion of the Levin experimental farm [ was planted with flax; some three years ! ago,; but - the varieties were not, Mr. McNab =Jinforms;. me, : kept separate, as has been done at Ruakura. This will make the work of classification a little more difficult, but it" is hoped that during the coming autumn the different kinds of flax will be separated and planted - out in . classified plots. When this is being done selections will be made from each variety', and these will be treated with a view to ascertaining "the quality of each kind vof • fibre. The Government intend to devote special attention to the encouragement -of the flax industry by demonstrating . by experiments at the Stat© farms the best means of treating the fibre. It is possible that one of the research scholarships proposed to be offered by the Department will be devoted to this branch its 3 work. •'., ? : . ; The stock on the various portions of the farm were also inspected, and a visit to the dairy herd during milking time was made specially interesting by an exhibition of the Working of the milking machines, now; in use on , the station.. . " AGRICULTURAL CADETS. -...' The party were ' entertained: at ; the homestead during the afternoon by Mr. and Mrs. Dibble. During the stay there the Mayor of -Hamilton (Mr. Bond)-took the opportunity of formally welcoming ; the Minister to the. district. ;; , He referred to the good work done on the Ruakura station, and expressed pleasure at the intelligent interest displayed by Mr. McNab in the working of the estate. (Applause.) '■" - .-; : Mr. McNab, in f returning -thanks, said that what ho had seen on'the farm had more than astonished him. He had no idea, until he <■ saw the estate, of the extent to which -the Ruakura station hatl been ; de- ? veloped. He alluded to the valuable nature of the work now being done by experimental stations, affording a means of instruction in agricultural matters, aud said that there was only one thing needed to complete their sphere of -usefulness, and that was the provision 01 the necessary accommodation for the instruction of cadets desirous of taking up the study of agriculture. So far as he was able as an individual member of the Cabinet, it was his intention to see that this provision was made. (Hear, hear.) Many men were desirous -of affording their sons an opportunity of, securing an. agricultural training, and in such an institution as Ruakura they had all the'requisites, with the exception of buildings, for the establishment of a minor agricultural college. He hoped that the necessary provision would soon be made, and that the day would not be far distant when the calling of agriculture would no longer be looked upon as being behind clerical and other city pursuits. When this time came it would help the colony considerably forward on the road to even greater prosperity than it enjoyed at the present time. (Applause.) - ■ • The party shortly afterwards returned to Hamilton.

ADDRESS ON THE LAND BILL. This evening Mr. McNab addressed a public meeting ,fci the Town Hall. The, Mayor presided, and there was a good attendance. In ; his introductory remarks, Mr. McNab said that he had come to the Auckland district earner than he had intended, owing to an unfortunate event which necessitated the election of a new member for Manukau. He thought it was scarcely fair that when a Bill of such magnitude as the Land Bill had been postponed for a session,"that the electors 01. a district should be allowed to elect a 1 representative < without hearing a clear explanation of the Government's land policy. •' He did not come to take any part in the election, but only to ensure that electors should have a knowledge of the exact bearing of proposed legislation. "'■ THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUL- , . , TURE. t ' Speaking of the Agricultural Department, he, said that on coming to their beautiful district that day, and visiting the Ruakura State farm, he found that a great deal.of useful work had been done there,; and that it was far ahead in completeness of any other State farm in the colony. , (Applause.) These experimental farms bad been treated with a great deal of ridicule and opposition by-many of their public men, but they were doing, good work. It was the"intention of the Government to have the whole country reported upon, from the North Cape to* the Bluff. The. work being done on experimental farms would be fully investigated, and he hoped to.be able to submit proposals by winch these farms would be brought thoroughly up to date, and, if necessary, more such farms would be established in different parts of the colony. » , -.; . THE LAND BILL. 'Dealing with the provisions of the Land Bill,'he spoke of the difficulty of framing a policy to give general, satisfaction. - One 'section of the community desired the leasehold, and another section wanted the freehold. (Applause.) He believed he could spot the side on which they were. (Laughter.) .They thought that it was the sim6 lest i thing in the world to frame a Land ill, if they only put the freehold in it. (Hear, hear.) If they divided the, present House into $ leaseholders and » freeholders, they would; find that there, were more of the latter -than the former. - ;(Applause.) Thev might think that, in view of this fact. the 'problem was i an easy matter to solve, but he pointed out that the freeholders were divided as : to the terms on which the freehold, should be granted. ; He spoke on the question of the original and present valuations on the lines of hjfl'Orjehtirjga speech,

and said there was no denying,the fait that there", was' a growing ;? feeling 'in 4 ' the I community *in . favour of some v form of leasehold. p- -' - "'- ■.':-.".-."-.'

A Voice: The Land Commission did not show that. , } : Mr. "McNab: If it could have been forewen how useless the labours of the "Land Commission would be a great'deal of money would have been saved to the colony; (Applause. ) Referring to the concession proposed to be given to the leas'e-in-perpetuity holders by the 90 per cent, payment clause, Mr* McNab said this was an enormous concession to freehold sentiment, but it was not likely to be carried (and thus relievo lease-in-perpetuily tenants from the burdens under which they now suffer). j unless the endowment proposals in regard to the remaining Crown lands were also carried. It had been said, that Mr. McNab himself would take the freehold. .'■' Of course he would, especially if ho could get the land at the original valuation, and sell it to-morrow at present value. What he thought as an individual, however, had not to be considered. It was a question of what was the best for '.he country .as a whole. He knew that the Waikato peoplewere not supporters of the Hill. Had they been supporters of it he would hardly have been likely to have addressed them that night, It was tne knowledge of. their hostility to the Bill that- accounted for him appearing before them that evening in oider that he could explain the measure. ; ; NATIVE LAND QUESTION. -They had. no doubt, noticed that he had made no mention of native lauds. He was, of course, aware-thai- the disposition of the native lauds was a subject of; great interest to the Auckland province, hut unfortunately this matter was not within his jurisdiction. The only control that he. had .over this matter was dealing with native lands after they had been purchased-: by the Maori Lands Boards , (which were, under the control, of the Native Department), and vested in the Crown. -It was only then that the disposition of these ..lands came within the control of his "Department. As far as possible; of course, he would induce the Native Minister to hand lands over to the Lands Department, but he could not deal with the lands until they became Crown lands. conclusion! • It had, he said, been stated that he was one. of those who wished to knock the freebold on the head. 'But Tie had no such intentiou. It was only.the other day that a deputation in another district had asked him to take steps to acquire a number of large estates'for settlement, but, as he pointed out, if he did this he would bo terminating the present freehold of these lands and disposing of them on the leasehold system for 999 year.".. Thesepeople who asked him to do this were freeholders, and whv did they not cut up the estates themselves,, and thus, preserve the freehold? They were freeholders so far as their own laud . was concerned, but when it was the other man's land it was heave a brick at him. (Laughter.) The State could not go on. purchasing land for settlement at the present increasing rate simply for the ■■ purpose of subdividing it. "And was there any need for it, ho/asked, when, the owners could subdivide the land themselves, and thus ;achieve the same result? * (Applause.) 'VOTE OF THANKS. Mr. J. A. Young moved: "That the Hon. Mr. McNab be tendered a. hearty vote of thanks for his able and interesting address on the Government land policy, and this meeting approves of his resolve to prosecute a vigorous campaign in explanation of the Bill throughout the colony." Mr. S. Knight seconded the motion, which was carried almost unanimously.- - / The audience was apparently largely in sympathy with the freehold, and the Minister's references to the evident popularity of this form of tenure in- the district was greeted with frequent applause. ; Mr. McNab was entertained at supper in the Town . Hall, after the speech by the Borough Council. - The Mayor presided. The only toasts were "The King," and "The, Guest"'of the Evening. A pleasant hour was spent by those present.

DEPUTATIONS. • .A Cambridge J deputation, consisting of Messrs. Ferguson, Gardner, and Morse waited on Mr. MeNrtb to-night in regard to the site of the proposed new post office at Cambridge. The deputation suggested placing the new building on the Municipal Reserve. The Minister promised to communicate with the Postmaster-General on the subject., . -Mr. J. B. Teasdale (chairman of, Te Awamutu Town Board) also interviewed the Minister regarding the question of setting apart- a, certain reserve in the Tc Awamutu mission property. Mr. McNab said he would make inquiries into the matter. -' - - ■' ■'■■

Air. McNab will receive'some deputations to-morrow morning, and leave by the .down express, speaking at Clevedon to-morrow evening, and going on to the Auckland A. and P. Show on Friday./ STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. MEASURE NOT UNDERSTOOD. PROBABLE VISIT TO THE NORTH. [BY TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.] , Christciittrch, Wednesday. Interviewed by a Press reporter to-day, l Sir Joseph Ward stated the position of the Government in regard to its land proposals. He said: "The policy of the Government will be explained fully in different parts of the country. lam going to speak as soon as I get clear of my present engagement.; It can be taken for certain that the proposals contained in the Land Bill and the rest of our policy will be clearly laid before the people of the country, so that they will have an opportunity of fully understanding them. Mr. McJN'ab's tour in the North is for the purpose chiefly of explaining the provisions of the Land Bill, in regard to which there is a great deal of misconception/which has been industriously circulated.' "' The" land proposals of the Government, though understood by a section of- the community, I am quite certain arc not understood by the great mass of-the people; ; I 'have received many letters supporting our land proposals. For instance, here is one before me now, in which the writer thoroughly endorses the provisions of the Bill." • 7 Asked if he were likely to take part in the campaign soon, the Premier said: " Yes; but lam not quite certain where I will speak first, but' most probably in the North. There arc," continued Sir Joseph Ward, "a * number of fanners in different parts of the Colony who are themselves the owners of freehold land, who have. written to me after making an examination of our land proposals, and they .state that they generally agree with them.'. Summed up, the opinion expressed by them is that the Land Bill is the nearest approach to effecting a settlement of, the land question upon a broad basis : that' has ' been proposed in their time in the. colony." - "I stated when I was last in the South that I had' information in my possession that there was likely to be trouble within the ranks of the Farmers' Union. Though a great deal of information was in my possession then, I did not feel justified in. discussing the troubles of the Farmers' Union, which I knew were about to see the light of day, but it fs quite evident, from what has now been made public, that there is a large section of the farmers, who compose the Farmers' Union, who are entirely out of accord with the ideas of the president of the union. • The farmers (by the union itself) have been circularised throughout the-length and breadth of. the country, putting forth the limitation of areas as one of their planks, and the fact that this is now being opposed by a section of the executive on the face of it, indicates that a reversal of what was tho policy urged before the last election, has occurred. There is no proposal in the Land Bill, and we have stated it on more than one occasion, which in any way can be construed into interfering with the freehold." '<-.-■•