THE MINISTER OF LANDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14245, 20 June 1908, Page 5

THE MINISTER OF LANDS

ADDEESS AT MATAURA. VOTE OF THANKS AND CONFIDENCE. (Fbom Our Sram Bepomm.) MATAURA, J U no 19. Tho Minister of Lands addressed a hwe meeting of his constituents at Mataura. to-night. The Mayor (Mr John Gait) presided, and the audience comprised a number of residents of tho district who lmd dijven in from considerable distance in listen to tho Minister's remarks The Mayor said it must be rather gratifying to the Minister to xe BU( , n a lurgo audience assembled to hear him deliver his first address in Mataura since ho had taken a portfolio. Mr M'Nab had come south op two.erranuV-to take farewell of 1 portion of his electorate, which had been merged into tho Clutha electorate, and to deliver a pre-sessional address. Last year the Minister spoke in Gore, and this year he was giving Mataura a turn. —(Applause.) 'is» Hon. Mr M'Nab, who .was recentfd with hearty plaudits, said that ts ono of.his reasons for coming .south was to say farewell to a portion of his electorate it might not be out of place of him It? 1 J llß firet romarl ra to tho change that had been brought about all over New Zealand by tho report of the BOUNDARY COMMISSIONERS. It was unfortunate, he thought, that tho subdivision of tho Mataura electorate had been made in tho manner it had. A subdivision of. the kind raised (he whole question of tho electoral boundaries, and it was timo now for Parliament to say whether it was not acting on altogether wrong lines in saying that Parliament was to have nothing to do with the boundaries of the electorates. It was thought at one time that if Parliament had tho setting of tho electoral boundaries it would set them in a way that would not, be for tho benefit of „ the public generally, .'but for tho benefit of tho membors of Parliament themselves, so that portion was given up to a body that could not possibly understand all the conditions and interests of tho various parte of tho country. The result was a divorcing of the interests of different districts, and the timo had come when Parliament must say that it would itself decide the electoral boundaries. He had given somo consideration to the proposal that the ,representation of the South Island should be left as at present, and that the North Island should be given six additional seats, and he thought it would bo impossible to accomplish in that way tho result that was desired. Hie people would havo to abide by the decision as given by the commissioners, and perhaps admit that in consequence of the lesson they bad learned the time had como when tho fixing of tho electoral boundaries should be handed over to Parliament, and not to three or four people over whom Parliament liad no control whatever.—(Applause.) While on • the question of representation he wished io refer to a proposal now before the country. He referred to the question of an ABSOLUTE MAJORITY of votes polled by the higliest candidate jOP the list. For many years he had taken a. great interest in a system under which it was possible to make provision that no man could bo elected to Parliament unless he secured an absolute majority of tho votes polled on the election day. There wore many cases where a man might be returned and whero it was found that two or three times the number voted against him as voted for him. That subject had been brought up for consideration by Parliament on many occasions. : lt was brought, up under tho Absolute Majority Bill, which was introduced by himself, and under the Secondßallot Bill, which was introduced by Sir William Steward. Tho question had been gone into carefully, and it had boon decided by (ho Government that although the Absolute Majority Bill would provide that the man who got tho electoral representation bad secured a majority of votes and would do everything on the one day, it, was not considered advisable to adopt it on account of what somo members considered its complexity, and the Government had deoided to give a trial to what was known as the second ballot system. That was that when the writ was issued for the polls to be taken if would declare a day, probably a fortnight, afterwards, when the second election would take place, if in the first election the man at the top of the poll did not secure more votes. than all the rest, added together. All the candidates would drop out except the top two, and . these two would 1 have another election to ascertain who was the.successful candidate. ~ He had gone repeatedly into the merits of the systim, which would secure to the ', people * rcpres'oiftfction'.' 'on •■ an''' absolute majority. It was hoped under the system that elections would not bo controlled simply by sections of tho community for purposes of their own. Thore had'been many suoh elections in different parts of the country, particularly in" some parts whore meetihgs hod come together to declare for one candidate and no other. Under tho system he referred to, if that candidate were not first or second on the list he would stand out altogether. Electors were, therefore, forced to say which candidate they preferred, and candidates could not run for office on account of any one particular scheme. It was hoped that the political field will be widened, aud that the people would obtain a better class of politician, and a class that was not polled for by any particular section of the people. He,would not, however, say anything more on this matter then, as thore were a number of other things he wanted to refer to. ; THE OPPOSITION. He did not intend to enter into a de* fensive speech on the policy of (ho Government, nor an attacking speech on any of his opponents of tho Opposition of to", j day. He could only say that he could not , defend himself against its attacks because 1 there was practically no Opposition to , attack him. The Opposition that, appeared 1 to be in existence- at, the present timo . seemed only to concern itself with the \ question that it discussed from one end \ of the country to the other, of whether , thcro was any possibility of a coalescence • or coalition between the Government and the Opposition. Ho wanted to give them , his view on the position, and it would be interesting to see fttitt would bo the , position of the parties a"t the next election. , Ho would take them back to 1906, after \ tho late Premier had como to such a tragic , end, when thoy would remember it was ( prophesied that the Administration that ; had held the reins of power under their j great loader would at his decease como to the end of their tether. When the new Administration was formed it had fox , awhile a very troublesome time. Of course, , tho Government- could not take ncvV mem- ] bers into the Cabinet without a certain amount of bitter feelings being experi- j enced among politicians, and ho did not blame, any man for feeling the fact that ho had been passed over in any selection. Fifteen yeare of political life in this country had prepared him to admit that the salvation of politics was the individual members' ambition to advance themselves politically. Remove that possibility, and tne only punishment for any public act committed by a public man would practically 'ho removed. The only way in which ho could bo punished would be by forcing him to retire into private life. Only by that private ambition in the breast of every private member of the House could , the public of this country have the power of punishing the public man by withhold- :

injt the distinctions ho hoped and worked for. At the very commencement the Ward Administration was faced with a great number of very difficult problems—problems that had been passed by earlier Administrations from _ year lo year, and which had been steadily increasing. It was freely prophesied that the Ward Administration would never see another election through successfully. A year had gone by, and what was the position to-day! After the last general election the numerical strength of each party had shown the Opposition party as being 16 strong. The Government party was returned as 61—64 to 16—and now he would suggest to them that the Administration elected by Sir Joeph Ward had proved so satisfactory to the House that they were finding those members who, after the last election took their scats as Independent Liberals, announcing their intention this year as Liberals, and allying themselves with the Ministerial party.—(Loud applause.) So there could be no doubt that, in the opinion of those Independents, that the Government met with approval. The members he referrexl to were Messrs J. C. Thomson, of Wallace, Mr Thomas Mackenzie, and Mr Gray, of Christchurch city. Those were well-known Independents, and there was no better indication that the present policy and past work of the Ward Administration was satisfactory to the House than the fact that these three gentlemen had declared for it. Their attention had possibly been called to certain developments in connection with the forthcoming GENERAL ELECTION, and thero wcTo some interesting aspects of that which he might comment upon. First, there was the marvellous position of the 16 members of the Opposition. Of these

I hoy would know a groat part had declared it their intention not to again offer their services to their electorates at, the forthcoming election. Mr Lothbridgo (Oroua) had determined to retire, Mr Allison (Waitemata) of the northern provinces, where the Opposition was supposed (o have such a sweeping majority, had decided not u. stand again, and Mr Donald Keid, Taieri, was retiring, and so also was Mr Lewis (Courtenay;. Altogether five members out of the J6 had determined not to re-enter public life, and he wus not giving away any great secret when lie stated that in addition to these there were two or three other Opposition members who did not intend to seek once more Urn confidence of the electors. All these were significant, facts in the political outlook. He would aim mention this fact; Taking the electorates from Nelson all the way down the West Coast, and taking in all the Southland electorates to Ohttha (not taking Wakatipu into account) there was not a single electorate, in which a man was coming forward in the Opposition interest. When these facts were put together, and it was realised, too, that during the latter portion of this recess, whon they might have expected the Leader of the Opposition and the leading members of the Opposition to bo stumping the country and they wero not doing so, what was the obvious conclusion? Who ever heard of the last recess of a Parliament and the Leader of the Opposition not traversing the country from one e'nd to the other and explaining the iniquities of the Government? Thcro must be a reason for it. The, Leader of the._ Opposition had no 1 a lazy bone in his body, and there must bo fpt'ncthing behind it all. There was, it seemed to him, only one explanation, and that, was that during the last general election the constituencies that returned members of the Opposition returned them on account, of the strong personal power of the individual members. The members of the Opposition held their scats not liceauso they represented the views of the. electorates, but because individually they were strong men, who had captured seats that politically belonged to the other side. "When seats were secured in that way the security of office was not very great, and in place of n coalition, or, as Mr J. Allen had suggested, a conlesencc at he next general election, thcro wael coming a result that was inevitable and that, was the entire

CEASING TO EXIST of the whole of the Opposition.—(Applause.) The Government did not want any coalition, and it did riot want any coalescence. If he wanted anything at all, ho wanted tho present' Opposition to bo stronger than it was, Mr Allen was wrong in declaring at Milton that Sir Joseph Ward was going round tho country clamouring for a coalition. Sir Joseph did not want any coalition, nor did he want coalesence, but there was. one thing that was inevitable. He would quote eminent authority in the Mataura electorate to prove that there wcro ! others besides himself who faw what was coming. At a recent meeting of tho Southland Conference of the Farmers' Union Mr Middleton moved that, in view of the danger of the three-party scheme being introduced. Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Masscy should bo asked to consider the question ofeoalesoing. Now, every person in that part knew the political view of Mr Middlcton and of the Farmers' Union in that district.—(Applause.) They had lived to |?eo tho Fanners' Union of Southland urging between the present Government and the present Opposition that thev should coalcse. It was seen then by more than himself what, was going to happen.—(Applause.) He would also mention this point. A great, deal was being said about

SOCIALISM, and tho possibility of an extreme Socialistic section bringing about the three-party system in New Zealand. He did not believe that wo.bed here the elements for the three-party system to get a footing. Wo had not the two extremes that they had 111 Australia. We had not tllo enormously wealthy pastoral and manufacturing classes that tliey had there, and we had not the terrible poor city class that they bad. 1110 people in New Zealand' existed as a mean between these two extremes Here we were all to a certain extent •socialists. Any man who supported State control of railways was in some degree a Socialist but when they came to'talk about the extreme revolutionary class 0! Socialist ho would say that it was his own belief that at the next general election there would net be a single electorate in which they would secure representation Applause.) He wished to protest against the lMdinfrmembera or the Opposition who suggested that that section of the political parties was ruling at present the destinies .of New Zealand, and that there was anv intention of the GoyornmMfc™ki™,,,, st . o{ flio wrvir, .„f -thftt- section of the community Let anyone read the bitter correspondence Koinir' on now i„ Wellington between the head men of the Socialists of a« V • • !v " d aml tho Minister of Internal Attatrs m regard to some recent remarks of his and it would he seen that there was Zll ■ W? 1 l )o3i ; ibi % "f Government being indebted to (hem for nnvthunr a* the next general election. It 'was only a bugbear. It was put, up for the li me O-imr to try to stem (he tide that he thought W as going to bring into the politics of New Zealand at the next election the greatest political change that had yet taken place in politics during the lifelime of any person now living, and that covered almost U„ w iiolr> period of i.h«ir representative goveir.monf. - (Applause.) Aaturally they would expect him to f,v something about

LAND LEGISLATION

and land adminstration. Great changes had taken place in their land laws sinrco he last addressed them. These changes had been criticised from the NorlL Oapo to the Bluff, and some of that criticism he would refer to. Ho wished to refer first to the alterations that took- place 'n the land proposals from the time they were first submitted to tho House until thev emanated from Parliament in the form of the Land Laws Amendment Bill of last year. Tile changes were fairly exlcnsiveso extensive that numbers of people had the idea that the proposals iiret brought down were abandoned and an entirely new position taken up far in the rear of what had been taken up on the former occasion. Ho attributed the position to the. failure of the House or of those who opposed the bill to make good their points as the bill went along; and in that way the impression was conveyed to the. public mind that the former attitude had keen departed from and that tho Government had practically come over to the views expressed by those who opposed tho bill. \\ell he would »11 attention to this fact: If they had departed from the original proposals and adopted tho proposals of their opponents, whv did not the Opposition help to put the' bill on tho Statute Book? As Minister in charge of the bill he was 59 hours, at 'the tabic when the bill was in committee, irrespective' of the second and third readings. If the Government had adopted the proposals of those opposed to it, that would not have boon necessary. Those who supported the proposals supported then to the end; and if in the end they were the proposals of the Oppposilion, who kicked up the fuss during the 59 hours? It would l>o remembered that when the bills wore brought down last yoar they were divided into three-a Taxation Mill, a general Land Bill, and a National Endowment, Bill. Mr Allen (Bruce) supported a great deal in these measures. Ho appeared not to object so much to any of the land legislation, but to tho right of the freehold being taken away from (hat large area of 9,000,000 acre 3 of land known as tho national endowment. The national endowment proposals were in a bill by themselves, and if that was an objection, why did he not support the other bill that did not contain tlie proposals? As a matter of fact, Mr Allen was one of the strongest opponents tho Government had. He opposed tho three bills to the end. and the bulk of those associated with him did tlie same. It was true there were individual clauses that they allowed to go into the bill without a division. He would al--o say this of Mr Allen and of these who were with him: that the clauses limiting the area a man could hold on the date of tlie passing of the bill wero not opposed by a einglo member of tho Opposition. He thought he know the leason why. Of course ho might be wrong, and he would not say what it was; but when those members i representing largo pastoral interests got put into' the bill privileges that no other Government had given to them—for instance, the right of compensation for improvements,—and when they saw that the bill was certain to be carried with these concessions in it, they then went into the Noes lobby and voted against it. so that they were able to say to their constituents that they had voted'to kill the bill. The result of separating the bills into three was that tho Government was able to meet its successive opponents on each particular section. Thai, of course, was the object of cutting the original bill into three parts, aud it was a perfectly fair and legitimate method to adopt. If the Prime Minister were to say at the commencement of a session that, he bad 150 hills to put through, and ; f be gathered

them into one, how far ivoulil «. bill of tho kind go? They would not find a single member in the house who would own it. lie expressed his appreciation of the measure adopted by the house providing for the cutting up of big estate. It, was a plan that, if effective, was the simplest thing in the, world, and its limits it was difficult to conceive. Then there , was (he original proposal concerning the man who held ltiud valued at £50,000, and the graduated tax framed to, meet, his case. If • (hat man turned his business wito a joint stock company, and gave the control of his land over to it, he could not hold a.u unlimited quantity of land. Tho fact that the property was shown on his books was sufficient, and whether he held land valued at £40,000 or up to £100,000 he would yet, find himself liable, and was not allowed io escape uiider any pretext, whatever. Tho measure had stood the scrutiny of' tho ablest lawyers in the Dominion during the past 12 months, awl actuated by tho promise of hie; fees they had sought a loophole of escape, but he had not succeeded.—(Laughter.) There were certainly big fees sticking out for the man who could turn that measure inside out, but they could not do it. The best law draughtsman in Australasia had framed it. He would refer to the great characteristics of the Land Bill by itself in regard to taxation proposals, which largely consisted of alterations of tho law. It was on certain alterations in the measure thai ho particularly wished to comment. It had been stated that the RENEWABLE LEASE would kill the measure, that it would not work, and that if they did have to take' it they would not Jive at all. However, j ids contention was that there were very few I landed estates that did not in following generation pass from one' family to another every 33' years, or every 66 years', so that it was evident that a new man buying was not getting the land any cheaper. He would be buying at capital value, and ho (the Minister) wanted to keep that capital value to the State for special revenue purposes. Under the preference clause in the act the' Land Board had power to examine applicants to the utmost limit of their means, and had the option of putting them out if they did not give satisfactory answers to any questions put to them. The measure had started with everything against it. It came into existence in November of last year, but it was really February before it came into active operation, and had tho opinion of the Opposition been correct, there, would have been very few. applications under it. It was noticeable in this respect that the greatest amount of opposition to the measure came from tho North Island, while it received the most support in the South. He would now quote a return he had had prepared showing the estates opened for renewable lease since November last (that is, since the act of 1907 became law). Hawke's Bay District. Estate Sections. Applicants. , llaumati 28 57 ' Pourere 6 .. 2G Kanakanaia ... 7 .24 Te Arai 55 .. 282 Nelson District. Braeburn 21 .. 27 Otago District. Otekaiko 40 053 Tauniata 0 95 Meadowbauk ... 8 83 Totals . , ..183 ' .. 1247 The _ Rewi settlement, in the Auckland district, was advertised last January, in addition to those already given, hut there were no applicants, the prices being high. The number of applicants given were those who went to tho ballot-box. A proportion of those applying were rejected in each case on account of unfitness, etc., and those wero not included in the totals given. Renewable leases were granted during April and May last to 42 selectors, representing an area of 4211 acres. Under land for, settlement 21 selectors, area 5534 acres;' under village settlement, 29 selections, area 262 acres; showing tot J» of 92 selectors, with an area of 10,007 acres. Ho would Mks to say regarding Rewi that, owing to the strong opposition there to the system, there wore no applicants, but. the land had been let under grazing 1 leases, which more than paid' the current charges on it. Where the politician jmuj not demanded the system it had proved a succass, but where lie had it had failed.. It would be noticed, too, that the Olekaike sections liad called forth the largest number of applications. In this connection he would mention that the applications for sections on the Culverden Estate had closed that evening at 5 o'clock, and that the Commissioner of Orown. Land* for Canterbury had wired to him,, s-aying (hat tho total number of applicants 'was 793. representing 983 applicants. The total ' deposits lodged, were £io^osQ.^L'pud : ap'\, plause.) The' land in question in tho Mataura locality would not be worth more then £4 per acre. This did not show tiny marked unpopularity with the measure. In . connection with the renewable lease and (he lands for settlement the' following figures would bo interesting. Tho number of new selectors, with tho area, taken up during tho 12 months, from April 1, 1907, (o March 31, 1908, with the total amount of revenue thereby accruing,, was shown by the following details:— Number of new selectors on ordinary Crown lauds, 1813; area selected, 1,212,717 acres 3 roods 38 poles; cash received on past and current transactions, £380,055 4s Id. Number of new- selectors on Cheviot, Estate, 2; area selected, 130 acres 1 road; .cash received, £14,293 12s lOd. Number of now selectors under Land for Settlement Acts, 420; area selected, 114,051 acres 1 rood 26 poles; cash received, £229,727 13s 3d. Grand totals: New selectors, 2235: area selected, 1,326,899 acres 2 roods 24 poles; cash received on past, and current transactions, £624,076 10s 2d. Estates opened on 33 years' renewable lease:—Auckland: Matamala (part), 623 acres; Rewi, 1719.- Hawke's Bay: Kanakanaia, 5297; Raumati, 3997; Pourere, 2210; To Arai,' 10,540. Wellington: Nonr.andale, 229. Canterbury: Kinloch, 462. Otago: Meadowbank, 4344; Otekaike, 50,542; Taumata. 3700. Totals: U estates; 94,814 acres. A statement re lands for settlements up to tho 31st March, 1908, showed that the amount raised wider the I<and for Settlements Act (current) was £5,496,547; rents, interest, and other money received, £1,433,552;£6,930,099; expenditure on purchase of estates, £4,807,371; surveys, road*, and other costs, £409,882; 'interest paid, £1,116,152; sinking fund, £104,630; balance in the account,£492,C63:-t0ta1,£6,930,099; The lands purchased in 1906-7 wero:— Eight estates, containing 19,644 acres, at a cost of £117,328; 1907-8, 16 estates, containing 106,868 acres, at a cost of £565,728; roads and other expenses, 1906-7, £70,950 • 1907-8, £47,967. The lands purchased in April and May, 1908, were: : -Three estates, containing 32,244 acres, at a cost of £148,844; roads, etc., same period, £3252, The provincial distribution of purchases in 1907-8 was:— . ~ , Acre?. Cost, Auckland .. .. 25,160 .. £83,614 ui Hawke's Bay .. 30.276 .. 277.821 10 U "Wellington roach — 'jgg 5 g .Velson .. .. 6,236 .. 16,247 2 0 Canterbury .. 4 .. 13 8 0 Otogp .. ... 63,172 .-. 181,824 12 0 Southland .... n .. 271 17 6 Totals . 126,868 .. £563,727 17 11 He believed he had ehown clearly that the renowablo lease system was not « failure, but was indeed proving a success, and he thought that before long this would be generally acknowledged. As for people changing their views, he had read in a telegram from Gisbome that at the conference of tho Farmers' Union this remit was adopted :. " That tho Government be urged Io amend the Land Act to give all lease in perpetuity Crown tenants, other than t'luwe settled on resumed estate lands, the option of purchasing the freehold at a fair value." Tho Farmers' Union did not always take that view, even at a provincial conference so that a. great change was going on in the ranks of that body.—(Applause.) LEGISLATION IN THE I'UTURE. There would be no land legislation during the coming session. The arrangements in connection with the sitting of the House, were so _ poor that it was very certain that the session would bo a 6 short as it was possible to make it, consistent with getting through only the necessary work. There was one question that would have to be faced 111 the immediate future—namely, thai the tenants of tho primary school endowments must have their tenure examined into and put on a bettor footing. At, the prcsont time these tenants did not enjoy tho privileges in regard to remissions of rent, length of term of lease, "thirds" and " fourths," or the offer to the local Ixxlies for the construction of roads. He hoped that, at a-nyrate, in time for thct general election, the Government would, be able to submit propolis to do awav with the bulk of these irregularities. The Minister went on to refer at some length to the development of agricultural matters in the Dominion. The department had now assumed very extensive dimensions, ami it was the intention to try to reduce to a minimum that irritation of interference that might have characterised it in the past, and to enlarge that portion of the work which was educative rather than

punitive.—(Applause.) He also spoke of the establishment, of the Veterinary College in Dunedin and of (lie Dairy School and Experimental Station at Palmcrston North. It had been reported by the experts who had s>oue Home that the failure of much of our dairy produce in the market* of the Old Country was due,, not to any defect in the manufacture, but to the conditions that prevailed in the .byre- Instructors had therefore been appointed l to look into this aspect of dairy work, and their visits, he believed, would I* 1 welcomed by the farmer. His object was to instruct. him how to do better. He hoped in m short time to be able to issue- the new dairy regulations, when it would be seen that the desire of the department was to make the results of the people more effectiee and (he finished article of better quality than formerly.—(Applau?e.l The. Minister also spoke of the granting of . research scholarships and of the steps that, are being taken to encourage scientific investigation in connection with dairying matters. In connection wll.li the development of the Department of Agriculture, he could not help remarking that in the past the advance that had been made in the affairs of this department had been duo more to the, city members of Parliament than to the representatives of the country. This was really due to the fact that 'in. the days when .tho department was beginning lo extend ils scops in the various industries which concerned it the -principal supporters of the Government were city members, while the country members to a great extent sat on the Opposition benches. He well remembered when Sir John M'Kcnzie proposed the development of the beo culture branch of the 'Agricultural Department, and the fierce opposition it aroused. It was only his strong Celtic temperament and determined support of what ho proposed that carried his measure through. Many people supposed that any suggestion now for tho development of the Department of Agriculture would be greeted with a storm of applause, but they never made a 1 greater mistake. He "recalled .tha opposition he met' with / last session when he brought down tho Apiaries Bill, and had had the same experiences as Sir John M'Kensie. So strong was tho •opposition that many members had seriously 'asked him . if die measure was on straight lines. They objected to tho measure until they .understood what it meant, and then they gave, it their hearty support. He could not that night, unfortunately, refer to the manner in whjch tho department had taken up the mattor of flax grading, and how the duty was removed when the £rea-t slump in the price of hemp came. The departmen had also taken up tho dressing of flax, and also proposed to forward periodically samples of dressed hemp for. exhibition at shows, fanners' meetings, etc. In conclusion, he thanked his supporters for tho assistance tliey had given him in the past, and in the coming election if they and others were satisfied with the work done by their representative, he -hoped they would not forpet him. when tho time came to vote for or against him. -(Applause.) Several questions were answered. Mr William Pryds (Mataura) moved that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded (o the Hon. Mr M'Nab for his.luoid and interesting address, arid that that meeting express its continued confidence in him as member for the district.' Mr James Cnshnie (Edendale) seconded the motion, which was carried with acclamation. COMPLIMENTARY SOCIAL. After the address, tic-Hon. Mr M'Nab was entertained at a complimentary social in MacGrogor's Hall. There were about 150 Mm and gentlemen present. Mr Finhty- M'Kay, who was in the-chair, proposed the toast of "Our Guest," and the Hon. Mr M'Nab briefly responded. The catering was in the-capable hands of Mrs I. MaoGregor, who gave satisfaction to all. •■• ■ ' FROM FORTROSB TO MATAURA. R. M'Nab (Minister of Lands) left Fortrose this morning for Mataura, calling at Pomuhaka, Pine Bush, and Glenlmm. At the last-named place he addressed tho school children and inspected the dairy factory. A deputation consisting of Messrs Norman [ E. Jjfiijjhtbn, J. Henderson, D. Mackenzie, i'. D. lk'id, and G. Windiis presented to the Minister- a petition signed by 20 persons asking for a grant of' £500 to enable them to co-operate with the Southland County Council in putting Mitchell's road, on tho G-lenham settlement, into better condition than it is in at present. The council wqtild grade the road, and the grant of £300 would help it to provide metal. . The Minister, in reply,' said he would to the MiniUer of the compilation - of the reads-and bridges division of the- Puhlic ' Works Estimates was under consideration'.' The Minister, accompanied 1 by Mi- H. tt. EH, M.P., arrived at Mataura shortly before 3 o'clock.' The Borough Council 'waited on the Minister and asked that he should intercede with the department regarding its proposal to close up' the street giving access to the station from Bridge street, forcing rcsio\'its to go a roundabout, way via River street. It was explained that'the department had a perfect, take this course, as the street in question was solely railway property, but the deputation thought that as the street in question had been open for 30 years the department might at least show Mataura people some consideration by .allowing them a track for vehicles or a footpath. The Minister promised to look over the ground to-morrow morning and to interview tho railway authorities on the matter immediately he returned to Wellington on Monday. , The deputation then brought, up a matter concerning- a reserve, which they proposed to let for building sites. An adjoining property-owner objected, and threatened to take legal proceedings, - stating that, nis litle showed the reserve as a roadway. The''Minister, learning that tho council held a title for the land, assured them that they were not responsible to the property-owner, whose remedy lay in approaching tlio Government. If the latter had wrongly issued a title to the council he could bo compensated from the insurance fund. Tho council then asked tho Minister to assist it in obtaining from the Minister of Public Health permission to utilise 58 acres about one mile from the township as a sanitary depot. Thoro was no objection to the proposal, and the public health inspector had approval. Mr M'Nab promised his assistance.