THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8140, 16 May 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1906.

Tbe question of closer settlement in the Masterton electorate is ouoe more being talked about, but it seems to be rather problematical whether the present Government, even if they exist for another record number of years, will do anything more for the Masterton district in the future than they have done in the past. Land settlement generally, not only in the Masterton district, but throughout the colony, has been sadly negleoted by the Government. Home years ago, when the time was most opportune for vigorously pushing on land settlement, not merely tbe resumption of estates, but by every means withiu the power of the Government, tbe people had to be satisfied with talk and promises. ' * * # * It would be interesting to know in bow many differeut places prior to last General Election, the Premier,

and various Ministers,' presumably speaking for the Government;, pro* miaed to resume estates, in order to settle tbe people on tbe land. That, however, there is but little prospect of tbe pre-eleotion promises being given effeot to to any extent, must be perfectly obvious to anyone who has but a brief knowledge of tbe methods of ,the present Administration. Moreover, the Government can now stay their hand with some semblance of an excuse in the faae of the high value to which land has risen in recent years; but, be this as it may, lack of ability to find "scape-goats" was never a shortcoming of the present Government. When in Masterton reoently the Premier declared that the Land Purchase Board had thwarted the wishes of the Government, and bad at one time and pnotber cost the'oolony £500,000. Unfortunate Land Purchase Board ~it will probably be sat upon by a Royal Commission!

But whether the Land Purchase Board, or the Government !are to blame, or both together, if the townspeople of Masterton are desirous of seeing any benefit result from tbe representations of the Borough Council in the matter of closer settlement of) tbe land in this district, it seems to us that nothing abort of a vigorous public and continued agitation will have tbe slightest : effeot.- The Mayor and Town Clerk have waited upon' the Premier in an informal sort of way. It appears that they were not delegates from the Borough Council, but, while waiting upon the Minister for Mines in connection with the movement to establish a State Coal Depot in this town, they took advantageJ of tbe opportunity to submit to tbe Premier a list of properties which they considered it would be advisable for the Government to acquire. Information as to what properties were submitted does not seem to be immediately forthcoming, and altogether the position Is somewhat extraordinary. Certainly no good whatever will result from an "agitation" carried on in suoh a peculiar manner.

The report of the Masterton Trust Lands Trust, which we oiroulate in this morning's issue, emphasises the value of the Trust to this town. Opinion may differ as to whether a more progressive policy oould not be safely inaugurated, and especially in regard to vaoant Trust sections close to the main business thoroughfare, but at tbe same time, it must be admitted that the institution is at present of great value to the community, and. that it ■ has been creditably managed. Among the grants fur the year* ended March 31st, the following were the most important -—Technical School, £100; Masterton School, £73 17s 8d; St. Patriok's School, £24; Fernridge School, £2O 16s Bd. The Trustees, also, report that sinoe the termination of the financial year £l5O has been paid for the equipment of the new rooms lately added to the Masterton District High School; they, also, mention tbe faot that in furtherance of the soheme of agricultural classes in connection with the Masterton Sohool a section of land suitable for the purpose has been set side, and that the sum of £SO has been granted towards fencing the ground in.