MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14274, 15 August 1910, Page 7

MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE.

AN INTERVIEW. Tile Minister for Agriculture, and | ldinister in charge of Tourist and Health Resorts (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) passed through Timaru by the first express on Saturday on Iris way to Dunedin, where he has gone for the purpose of taking his family to Wellington, there to reside for the rest of tho session. Tho Minister, who was acempanied by his private secretary (Mr L. E. Johnson) was looking somewhat worn and tired, but with his usual courtesy he granted an interview to a "Herald" reporter who accompanied him on tho train as far as Glenavy. Asked whether he purposed making any improvements at Mt. Cook, the Minister said that all he could say at present was that the requirements of this popular tourist resort had not escaped his memory. But there was a- roar for retrenchment throughout the country, and if expenditure had to be curtailed tourist resorts would probably be tho first to suffer. Tho cry for retrenchment made it difficult to attend to such places as Mt. Cook. RETRENCHMENT. Continuing the Minister said: "You iß'ill have seen that although the Government has retrenched to the extent of £340,000, our opponents are declaring that the retrenchment is a. sham; that it has not reached £IOO,OOO, and that far more can be done in the direction of retrenchment yet. But tho Opposition members do not state the facts fairly or accurately. For instance, although there has been retrenchment to the extent slated, certain unusual expenses have occurred. We have bought the Manawatu line which cost a million, and there will be an increased interest payment in this, but there will also be an increased revenue return. Then wo are going to restore the 9d per head capitation grsi.nt to Education Boards, there having been a great clamour for it and the country said it wanted it restored, and I think it is right that it should be restored. During the period we promised to make certain reductions, we made them, but i am pleased to say that since then the revenue of the country has increased. The trouble is that those who are clamouring for retrenchment want it done at the expense of their neighbours; it must not be done at their expense. The Opposition ask for retrenchment with one breath, and with' the next, ask us to spend money on works which would not return a quarter per cent. And they never vote against the loans. If wo'responded to al! the demands made upon us, tlw public debt, instead of being what it is, would bo increased at tho rate of 10 null ions more per annum, and then there would be some not satisfied. The public debt increased between 1801 and 1908 by £32,000,000, but tho investments made by the Government tor that, period are realising more int';,T s i, t],,ltl wo are Paying on that £32,000.00(1. Tin's is a fact which tha Opposition quietly ignore. In addition to receiving more interest than it has to vay. tho country is receiving a great benefit from this'money which has been used to open it up and make it more productive. It includes money advanced to settlers, spent on railways on lands for settlement, worker s homes advanced to local bodies, etc. One does not obiect to fair criticism, but when B£r Massey charges us with Tammnnyism it is going hevond all reason and as I said in the House, the Leader of the Opposition either

spoko in ignorance, or he deliberately i misrepresented us. Tanimanyisin ineans all that is disreputable; it implies the bribing oi the Judges and the Magistrates; and if it existed it would reflect seriously not only on members of the House 'and Ministry, but also on the people who sent them there. There was not a tittle of truth in Mr Massey's base accusation, and be diet well to retire from it when i explained to him the significance of the term.''' BUSH SICKNESS. Asked concerning the bush sickness in the North Island, the Minister said that the affected area extends over about a. million acres, beginning near Rotorua. lie had gone over part of the area, in company with Mr Reakes, chief Government veterinarian, Mr Bell, hactereologist, Mr Astou, chemist, and local officers. They had Iji'ougno great quantities of the soil and vegetation dowji for analysis, and were cultivating various plants in it, under different conditions. There was a great scarcity of phosphates in the soil, and a superabundance of silica. Only rui minuting animals were affected by the peculiar sickness. After a month or two on the affected country, cattle and sheep began to wa.stc away and would finally die from sheer poverty although there was plenty of feed around them. If the stock was changed on to other pastures not affected, it quickly recovered. Examinations of the stock which died revealed no trace of disease. Cattle, before dying, often appeared to go a kind of half mad. Every endeavour would be made to ascertain what is wrong with the land and to apply a corrective. It would mean a. very great thing for that part of the North Island if the land could be made suitable for profitable occupation. THE MEMBER FOR TIMARU. The lion, gentleman, referring to the member for Timaru, said that Mr Cra.iI gie was shaping well. He was a man j who moved about quietly; he took his •duties seriously, did what he had to 'do very thoroughly, and Timaru was not likely to suffer at his hands. He had made a favourable- impression on I the House, and when speaking on tho j financial debate, was well received and listened to with interest. I THE NATIVE MINISTER, Asked what had brought the Native Ministor.,out of his shell, Mr Mackenzie said that Mr Carroll's recent speech on the native land question had been aji

[eye-opener to the whole House. He had. shown, the enormous difficulties to be contended with in gutting the nativeland owners into line, and that every available surveyor is at present at work together with their .-.ssistants surveying native lauds. Then too, he bad replied most effectively to the charges j made against him for his alleged lack lot push; and it could not, as some sa-id, be the eloquence of his speech winch had such ji telling effect, for he was .suffering from':, very had cold at the time, and his voice was husky, and even discordant at times.

Mr Mackenzie returns north this week.