THE POMAHAKA ESTATE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2130, 20 December 1894, Page 44

THE POMAHAKA ESTATE.

VISIT BY TIIE MINISTER FOR LANDS. VIEWS OF THE SETTLERS. (By Oub Special Reporter.) Clinton, December 13. Tho Hon. John M'Kenzie, Minister for L»nds, with a party including Messrs R. M'Nab and J. Mackiotosh.M H.R.'s,D. Wallace (chairman Clutha County Council), J. Ross (Palmerston), and lUngers Hughan aud Campbell, visitad and drove through the Potnahaka estate to-day. They were met on the way by two settlers— Messrs Cormack aud Chapman— who escorted them to the boundary of the property at tho Ponuhaka river. These seltlers represented that it waß desirable to extend the road formed by tha Government through the estate as far aa tho river, and to continue it to the ligr ito pit, so as to render tho latter accwsible to all the f cttlero ; and ako that it waa desirable to make the river fordable, in order th«>ifc the settlers rui^at be able to obtain timber from the opposite side. INTERVIEW WITH SETTLEUS. On his return jouruey, after an al fresco luncheon, the Miuister for Lauds was met by eight; other settlors, who, after having obtained a promise that the Government would parforin tluiv portion of the contract in regard to roading aud thftii a school would be erected on the estate, broached the qusation of obtaiuing relief in respcot to the conditions upon which they have taken up th\> land. Mr Clements askod if fctwrq was any prospect of the Pomahaka settlors boing placed ou the same footiug as other Crown tenants in having the interest used at 4- per cent, instead of 5 per cent. The Miniater for Lanes said he could hold

««; — 1_ _< - — — — — elephant." If there had never been a word said about that the Government might have con * sidered the request, but it was now beyond their power. A Voice : Beyond their inclination. Mr M'Gregor said he wanted to have a practical conclusion arrived at, and it 6truck him that the settlers would either have to get their rents reduced or else have to leave. He had no doubt there were many there who would accept a good bit less than what their sections had actually cost them, and leave tomorrow. Mr Clements : I know of one. A Settler : I know' of one. Another Settler : And I know of one. The Minister for Lands said he would strongly advise anyone of that opinion to leave. He could hold out no hopes of a reduction of rent. The Ministry had no power to grant a reduction. It would have to go before Parliament. Mr M'Gregor: Would you use your influence The Minister : No ; I would not. I have been over the country to-day and do not think it too dear. Mr M'Gregor : Well, I hope you will get the rest of it settled. The Minister : Yes, I will get ib settled. Mr Clements said if the rent was not reduced he supposed they would simply have to surrender the sections. The Minister asked whether Mr Clements and the others present were speaking for a large number of settlers, because he bad seen conic of the settlors, who expressed themselves as quite satisfied. The settlers wore understood to reply that they represented others who were absent as well as themselves. The Minister asked how the settlers knew they would not be able to make the land pay. They had only been called upon for half a year's rent, and it was too 6hort a time for them to prove whether the land was successful or not. Mr Clements said he had a small crop of turnips and oats, and he did not think either was successful. The Minister said as a rule the crop from the first furrow was not a succesß. Mr M'Gregor said it was not a question of crop, but of banking account. The Minister said if the crop 3 failed next year it was time enough for settlers to talk about reducing rent. Mr M'Gregor .said'they were not disappointed at the appearance of the first crop, for it was not much worse than they expected, bub the land was a disappointment. The Minister : You cannot tell that yet. Mr Abernefchy said supposing they did grow good crops of oats, they were so far from a market that they could not sell them. The Minister said he would not advise them to grow oats, but to grow turnips, sheep, and cattle. Mr Murray supposed they would just have to struggle on until they could not pay the rents and then leave. The Minister said he was very sorry they ihould be so chicken-hearted. It was seven months from the time they took up the sections and they began to croak. Mr Clements thought that if 1 per cent, was taken off the iutereet they would see many sections at Pomahak* settled, and the land would yield more to the Government than at present. The Minister said he thought that before the year was done they would see all the sections taken. Mr Clements said that already three sections taken at the ballot had been to all appearances ; forfeited. I The Minister : Not so far as lam aware. Mr Hansen believed that the rent could be taken out of the ground, but he thought a Government which helped small farmers should for a couple of years help the struggling settlers by letting their rent stand over or otherwise. The Minister replied that it any of the settlers did a certain amount of improvements on the land they could get advances to naif tha amount at & cheap rate of interest under the Advances to Settlers Act. It was too soon for the settlers to cry out that they had not made a success. Mr Hansen said there wag apparently one thing they must give the Minister credit for, and that was plain speaking. The Minister replied that he did not wish to deceive them. He would carry out his share of the contract — get the roads put in order and get a school put up for them. The interview then ended, »nd the Minister and party accompanying him renewed their return journey to Clinton, making a long dttour through the Clydevale estate.