PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND AGRICULTURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7723, 5 June 1903, Page 2

PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND AGRICULTURE.

STATEMENT jBY iA. MINISTER. [From Orit Cob-respondent.] DUNEDIN, June 5

Replying to a deputation from the Farmers' Union, who asked for increased subsidies to local bodies for general purpbsss in place of the usual Parliamentary grant, the Minister of- Lands saioTthat. it" would not jdo to increase the subsidy generally to local bodies, as old : settled districts were in a different position from those in the back-blocks, where there was considerably more expenditure. His own opinion; was v that local bodies might have to do with a smaller grant this year than on previous occasions, on account of the immense. extent of the land the Government was opening up, and which would have to 'be made fit for settlement.

With Tegard to the ragwort, they would do their best to cope with it. He thought the local bodies should do something in the way of drawing the attention of inspectors .to. "the places where the weed was. The best way to deal with it was in the early stage, ft ought to be kept from seeding.. With to the veterinary surgeons, that was a matter in which almost every district was moving, especially in the North Island. He had been, trying for some time to work out a scheme for training veterinary surgeons in the colony. (A member: "What about Lincoln College?") They could not train them, there ; the only* place where they could train them, was at a medical school in London. To comply with the requests of every district they would want a very large staff of veterinary surgeons.