WELL REASONED SPEECH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 3

WELL REASONED SPEECH.

MEMBER FOR OTAGO CENTRAL.GOVERNMENT AND THE DISTRICT. (From Cur Pwn Correspondent.) 'WELLINGTON, July 7. Mr Scott made a very sensible and wellreasoned speech in the House on the noconfidence motion to-day. He made a strong plea for the further immigration of farm labourers and domestic s'ervants. He congratulated the Government upon its decision to do away, with the political grants and votes to bodies that had been so much in evidence for many years, a system that had been most unsatisfactory. Mr Scott also referred to the necessity for finishing the Lawrence-Beaumont railway. It had been commenced in 1905, and to-day was not completed to the Beaumont —a distance of 11 miles. The people further up had .boon looking for that railway ever since the- first sod had been turned; yet last season they were no nearer the market than they were six years ago. He hoped the Government would exercise the utmost despatch in putting the line through to a payable point. In IEO6, when Mr Seddon turned the first sed, he told the people to go home and plant their gardens, because they could look upon that railway as an established fact. It was now to bo finished next season. There "was, however, a gap between Roxburgh and Beaumont, and he would like an assurance that another section would be pushed on. A large extent of country was going under fruit —thousands of acres, —and the apple_export would soon be a big thing. There was also a large area of agricultural country that could be opened up. He also strongly urged upon tire attention of the Government the afforestation of the poorer lands in Central (dago. He had suggested to the Prime Minister that a reserve of 1009 acres should be made, and fencing and planting commenced. At the Molyneux River, near Alexandra, very fine timber could be grown in the gullies. The Government, lie said, deserved credit for not closing the nursery at Ranfurly, because it was found that the trees grew best if they were reared in the district.