ADVANCES TO SETTLERS ACT.

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

ADVANCES TO SETTLERS ACT.

4> Referring to tho Advances to Settlers Act, tho Marlborough Express, an Opposition journal, makes the following remarks The Premier some weeks ago informed a representative of the New Zealand Times that ho intended to put more vigour into tho working of tho Act, and it is evident that the Minister for Lands, whom both Government supporters and Oppositionists agree in giving credit for complete sincerity in his desire to help the farmers, is also highly dissatisfied with the delays which have taken place, and with tho unduly severe restrictions upon, and obstacles to tho more satisfactory working of the scheme, for which tho Board is blamed by tho Government and by tho public. Did wo think that Mr McKenzie wished to manipulate the working of tho Act so as to secure loans being granted on doubtful securities, simply because tho would-be borrowers wore Government supporters, wo should strongly oppose any alteration in the personnel of tho Board. But wo do not think so, and fully heliovo, on the contrary, that Mr McKenzie, as a practical, sensible man—as ho is on most matters affecting land settlement and thofarmers generally—is really disgustod with the circumlocution and delays for which tho Board is responsible. If ho can infuse a little new spirit into tho Board and make it deal with the loan proposals a little more expeditiously and more fairly he will earn the gratitude of tho settlers. We believo that tho Act is based upon a good workable principle, but it should bo administered on broad, common-sense lines, and not in accordance with tho miserable red-tape rules of bumptious officialdom,