The Hon. W. Hall-Jones on Land Settlement.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3743, 23 May 1901, Page 3

The Hon. W. Hall-Jones on Land Settlement.

Speaking to a representative of the Lyttelton Times, the Hou. W. HallJones said that the newpaper reports of his speech at Timaru gave an entirely wrong impression of the tenour of his remarks in regard to the Government’s land policy. “ What I did say at Timaru was that it would be a very good thing if people wanting land there would induce some of the large owners of tho district to offer their properties to the Government. This has several advantages. It avoids the irritation and cost of litigation, and what is more important, it enables the Land Departments to make its calculations on a definite basis. If an owner wants £5 or £6 for his estate, the Department can add the cost of subdivision and reading, and so forth to the purchase money, and ascertain exactly what will be the annual rental of the farms. But it the price is left to an Arbitration Court there is always the risk that the valuation will he a little higher than the tenants can afford to pay. But it was never in my mind that this risk should prevent the Government acquiring land that is really required by the people. If the owners refuse to offer their properties or to negotiate for their sale then the law must be put in motion. There is no hardship about this ; a fair price will be paid for the land iu any case, and the reasonable wishes of the present owners will be considered. The Government’s only object is to increase the facilities for profitable settlement, and it wants to achieve this with as little fuss and friction as possible. As a matter of fact I urged the acquisition of a large estate iu the neighbourhood of Timaru phen I was addressing my constituents before the last general election, and I think that it will have to be taken under the compulsory clauses of tho Act.