ADVANCES TO SETTLERS DEPARTMENT. WELLINGTON, May 2.

Otago Witness, Issue 2410, 10 May 1900, Page 15

ADVA N CES TO SETTLERS DEPARTMENT. WELLINGTON, May 2.

In reference to the recent strictures by j ; ! Messrs Hogg and Stevens, M.H.R.'s, on [ J the Advances to Settlers department, Mr i J. G. Ward sa3 r s : — " We are quite pre-

pared to carry on that class of business 1 (advances upon leasehold sections) as I originally intended, but the 'first essential , throughout must be good .security] No j political pressure of any kind can be 1 allowed to influence the Government in i the working of an important ' department j such as this, which is intended to be carI ried on upon strictly commercial lines. It is the duty of the board to see that to the fullest extent every application 'is thoroughly considered, but if the principle were once adopted that either members of I Parliament or local bodies or anybody elsa } were allowed to exert pressure it would I sooner or Later bring about the destruction !of the system. Speaking for myself, 1 am ' not prepared to- allow such & policy to , creep in. I have personally inquired into j the_\rhoie matter, and I am quite satisfied that there is no justification for any copj demnation of the board or department. It _ is entirely a question of the value of the I securities ; but I may add that-the smaller j applicants are receiving a great deal more attention than the larger ones. lam t anxious to see the class of deserving bush settlers receive every consideration in conj nection with their applications, but jfc 1 is impossible that any class of . applicants , can be considered unless the 'securities are 'ot a safe character. The figures covering i tj ; e a jfrances made during the four months j of this year, as compared with the- corresi ponding period of last year, "present the j clearest evidence of the fact that the de- ) partment is actively carrying on its busi- ) ness, but I would repeat that in all classes without exception the first consideration j is the security upon which business is pro- | posed. Competent valuers are employed in j every district, and the board .must ' ha guided by them. The same " method's in , arriving at values are adopted in the case I of bush settlers as in all" other .cases.. .The superintendent of the -department ."is qiiits, willing to have brought under his notica any case wherein apparent" injustice 'has I been done, but *no pressure is brought' to bear upon the department to influence, the conduct of its business." "~ ~ "