THE MINISTER OF LANDS AT INYERCARGILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1934, 19 March 1891, Page 5

THE MINISTER OF LANDS AT INYERCARGILL.

Replying to the toast of " The Ministry " at the banquet given at Invercargill in bis honour, the Hon. J. M'Kenzie said .-—They had for the last 20 years been living on borrowed money. The present Government in forming their policy had decided to dispense with borrowing during their term of office. They thought it necessary that there should be a rest from borrowing and necessary to direct the colonists of New Zealand to live within their means and depend upon their own resources. They would all recognise the fact that it would be a difficult matter to tell each district that they could not have this and that luxury from borrowed money, and he hoped the time would come when they would be backed up by their fellow colonists and so enabled to give practical effect to their policy. They were satisfied that in the event of being able to do without borrowed money the people wonld see for themselves how necessary it was that they should be economical, not only with their own earnings but with Government money, and if they did that they would deserve a certain amount of thanks from the settlers of the colony. Then it was their intention, if allowed to remain in office, long enough, to lighten the bnrdens of taxation on the people of the colony. They recognised the fact that the bona fide settlers were overburdened with taxation, and it was their intention ' to equalise this burden. They would agree with him that Invercargill, as well as other towns, depended entirely upon the country districts for existence If the settlers as well as the townspeople were relieved, it would help to compensate them for the want of borrowed money. Another thine that they intended doing was to amend the land laws of the colony. He did not know whether they would agree with him in this part of the colony or not, bnfc it was his opinion that for the past three yeara they had been at work in a most reckless and extravagant manner in connection with the land. During that time the future had been saerified for the immediate present. Land had been disposed of to speculators at prioes far below its actual value' in order that a little money might be put into the land fund to make it look hotter on paper. This fund is out into two parts. One goes to the consohdated revenue, the other remains the land fund proper. Territorial revenue is handed over to the consolidated revenue, and the land fund is got from oaaa sales and deferred payments. The land fund is supposed to provide , all money for the land administration of the colony. These were matters which would have to be dealt with in the next Parliament! The land fund had always been behind, and one of the planks of his predecessor (the Hon. G F Richardson), was that be was to make it pay itself, and at what cost was he to do it ? Land worth £1, 25s and 30s, was reduced to 10s, 13a, and 15s an acre. The result was that speculators were induced to purchase which they would not have otherwise purchased, and thereby add to large estates. Looking around Invercargill, what had been the curse? Why, large > estates. In the provincial days land worth £2 an acre was sold for 10s simply to make things meet. It was wrong thus to have allowed the land to go into the maws of speculators. It was necessary in the best interests of the colony that the land should be conserved. There were only 2,800,000 acres suitable for settlement, and it wonld not do to dispose of this wholesale Some people said that if the land were all sold there would be an end of the land question. Why ,it would only be the commencement He intended to get a liberal Land Act passed through the Houses to amend abuses. One of his ideas was that they should assist in some shape to get settlement, and he was prepared to say to any man who wanted to buy, buy and be your own freeholder; but they were quite right to tell him that he could not hold theland for speculative purposes. Dummyißm he inintended to put a stop to by trying to induce the Government to make iicriminal to evade the Land Act. Another important matter waa the construction of main roads and drains on the land— making it ready for settlement, and ha had no doubt his colleagues would assist him to get some money. After referring to the iniquity of shutting up good forest land, saying that he intended to get at the bottom of all abuees in vogue here, and expressing regre^ at the absence of his colleague, the Hon. .7. G. Ward, a man who he bad predicted would conue to the front, he resumed his seat amidst load applause.