“POLICY OF LAND SETTLEMENT WILL BE N.Z.’S SALVATION.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18674, 31 January 1929, Page 14

“POLICY OF LAND SETTLEMENT WILL BE N.Z.’S SALVATION.”

HON G. W. FORBES SPEAKS AT WAIMATE SOCIAL.

(Special to the “ Star.”) WAIMATE, January 30. Waimate did honour to the Minister of Lands and Agriculture to-night, when a social was tendered to Mr Forbes by the townspeople. There was not a seat vacant in the hall, and the proceedings were enthusiastic throughout, the Minister being heartily applauded frequently during his address. The Mayor, Mr G. Dash, presided, and Mr J. Bitchener, M.P. (Reform) and Mr C. Carr, M.P. (Labour) were present, while every .shade of political thought was represented in the large assemblage. THE MAYOR'S WELCOME. “ To-night we welcome to this town the Hon George Forbes, Minister of Lands and Agriculture, two portfolios of outstanding importance to this Dominion and of intense interest to the people of this agricultural and pastoral district,” said the Mayor. “ Changes in Government are inevitable in the history of every British country, but it is cheering to all sides of political life to know that in such a change we in this country have had step into the portfolio of Lands and Agriculture a man of the stamp of Mr Forbes.” From boyhood the Minister had had that training which had rounded him off to fit his present position, added Mr Dash. After dealing with the athletic and political career of their guest, the Mayor asked was it any wonder that when the United Party faced the formation of a Cabinet this specially endowed man was its choice for the important portfolios which he now held. Already his grasp of the affairs of his Department had assured this country that he would carry out a progressive movement in the policy of lands and agriculture which would be for the best interests of all. Such was the man he welcomed to a town rich in historic record and the centre of a famously fertile area, set amid natural surroundings of great beauty. “On the southern border of Waimate county flows the greatest potential source of hydro-electricity yet touched by the Government of the country,” said Mr Dash. Known to the Maori as “ the waters of lamentation,” through its fatalities among those who sought to breast its waters, he trusted that in the harness which now was being placed upon its breast it would become known to white men as “ the water of light.” The town was worthy of the rich country and of its beautiful natural setting. Its people were hospitable and progressive. It was represented in Parliament by a man, who, though not a member of the United Party, was yet of such integrity and solid worth that he was right welcome in the legislative halls of the country. It had from time to time sent forth leaders of men. It had provided Parliament with a Speaker and a party whip, education with a director, and it had sent forth many men for high places in the life of the Dominion.

MR BITCHENER’S GOOD WISHES. Mr J. Bitchener, M.P., as chairman of the County Council, joined with the Mayor in welcoming Mr and Mrs Forbes. He also welcomed Mr James Horn, former member for Otago Central, who now has settled at Waimate. He believed that Sir Joseph Ward had imposed no greater task on any member of his Cabinet than he had on the Minister of Lands. If the Minister could do anything to attract more people to the land his name would be handed down to posterity as that of a man who had done some good for the country. He wished Mr Forbes every success, saying he believed that he was out to do his best for every individual in the Dominion. He also thanked Mr Forbes for the way he had dealt with deputations at Waimate concerning land matters. Mr Clyde Carr, M.P., also spoke, returning thanks for his welcome. CHEERS FOR SIR JOSEPH WARD. Mr G. Barclay spoke on land settlement, saying that three essentials were required for success. The first was how large or how small should be the areas into which the land was cut. That question he would not answer. The second essential was the necessary finance, which he felt Sir Joseph Ward was thoroughly capable of providing. The third was an efficient, capable and sound Minister of Lands, and he was sure that had been found in Mr Forbes. If land could be still subdivided Waimate would grow in size and prosperity. “We are indeed fortunate that Sir Joseph Ward again is in charge in New Zealand,” said Mr Barclay. “As Minister of Finance it would be almost impossible to beat him, for his sound finance and robust statesmanship have made him a great leader. We would like Mr Forbes to tell the great leader of our continued loyalty.”

Upon the call of the Mayor, who described Sir Joseph’s act in resuming the leadership of the party as an act of great self-sacrifice, the gathering rose and gave three cheers for the Prime Minister. Mr M. J. Corrigan said that it would be a help to the Dominion if men could be settled on ten, twenty or thirty acres of land, so that the men could carry on their ordinary work and their families could aid in working the small estates. He pointed to strawberry farming, which, although it was a bad season, had given a return of £SO an acre. He condemned aggregation of land, and said Waimate land was cap able of being cut into twenty-acre blocks. Mr Corrigan referred to the subdivision of land at Ladbrooks into twenty-acre blocks, which cost £2 2k an acre, the same blocks being sold at £I4OO to-day. He pointed to this as an example of what small areas were capable of producing. Mr J. Horn referred to the days when the Liberal Party was in opposition, when -he was a bench mate of Mr Forbes. He congratulated Mr Forbes and said that he was capable and qualified to fulfil the offices he had assumed. The country would be satisfied with Mr Forbes's policy. The policy of the late Minister of Lands should be reversed by Mr Forbes and Crown lands in the interior should be settled, thus aiding not only Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago, but the Dominion as a whole. MR FORBES'S SPEECH, Mr Forbes, after dealing with the history of the Liberal Party, said that there were many unemployed in the country, and even during the summer many were out of work. The position required something out of the ordinary to be done to provide employment for every man and woman. If they were to solve the question of unemployment they must increase the production of the land. There had been a halt in regard to land settlement, and if the country were to progress the problem of increased population must be met by closer settlement. His own early experiences made him sympathetic to men who were trying to make good on the lands of the Dominion. The settle-

ment policy of Sir John M’Kenzie was often misrepresented, but Cheviot settlers did nothing to embarrass that policy. Sir John M’Kenzie had to face the argument of why should he spend money on improved land when there were millions of acres of unimproved land waiting to be used. There was no doubt that that land settlement policy settled the unemployment problems of 1890. To-day similar conditions had arisen. Mistakes might have been made and might be made in the future, but the few mistakes that had been made should not deter the Government from carrying out a policy ol land settlement which would be the salvation of the Dominion. He was determined to do his best to stop the reaggregation of land which he had heard was being gone on with in the W aimate district. To make the best of the land that the Dominion had they could not allow aggregation to go on. and he was going to give serious consideration to the whole problem. The singing of “ For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow ” and resounding cheers marked the end of Mr Forbes s speech.