HELPING THE SETTLERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1260, 23 April 1896, Page 7

HELPING THE SETTLERS.

The Minister of Lands in Now South Wales, during his visit to the Eiveritm district, replying to harrowing rep re- : sentntioiio made to him in regard to 1 the ruinous effects of drought and the devastation by rabbits, made a nmu her of important announcements as to tlie Government proposals to assist settlers. He stated that the Government intended next session to push forward a Bill reducing selectors’ rents and otherwise easing tlieii burdens, also allowing settlers to purchase on easy terms suitable settlement areas. Referring loth-; question of large estates, he said they had no desire to c-m lisente property, but the large owners must remember that the land carried its obligations as well as its advantages. By excluding others from the soil, they were making the countiy dangerous to live in, creating a discontented people, and creating unemployed by neglecting the proper use of the land. Tho Government would at the earliest opportunity introduce a Bill to split up largo estates for agricultural settlement. He advocated light railways for agricultural districts, but hinted that they could not be constructed unless there was a good chance of their paying, Surveys had i boon completed for a vast system of water conservation and irrigation, and Parliament would be asked in the coming session, to secure to the people the right to water from all streams in the country. If millions were to bo spent on irrigation, then instead of the people wanting selections of Old acres they would be content with ten acres. The carrying out of the conservation scheme largely depended on the largo owners showing their willingness to pay for water. A new Rabbit Bill would be j introduced which would place the destruc- j tion of rabbits in the hands of the local 1 bodies assisted by the Government, which j parallel with these bodies would pursue a

vigorous system of extermination on Crown lands. lie mentioned that since 1890 £1,000,000 had been spent in the destruction of rabbits, half [of which amount had been paid by the Government.