HON. R. McNAB.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8286, 14 November 1906, Page 5

HON. R. McNAB.

BANQUETED AT WYNDHAM. By Telegraph—Press Association. WYNDHAM, November 13. The Hon. K. McNab, Miuister|for Lands, was banqueted by ilia constituents at Wyndharo, thie evening, when there was a large and representative gathering. Among the guests were the Premier, Lady Ward, Miss Eileen Ward and Mr J. F. Arnoid, M.8.K., for Dunedio. A supplementary item was the presentation by Mr McNab of a handsome champion belt to the Murihiku Mounted Rifles squadron, of which he was the founder and first commander. In making the presentation be stated that Sir Joseph Ward was bead of a Government whioh hoped to be able to make rise shooting one of the great pastimes of the people of the colony. Responding to the toast of his health Mr McNab said that at a nonpolitioal gathering party politics muse be eaubewed. On the land question the fiercest party battle raged, but in connection with the Department of Agriculture there was very little difference of opinion. Bis remarks, therefore, were chiefly devoted to matters connected with that Department, which, he stated, the Government would keep in the extreme front of their politioal platform, recognising that the agriculturist was the maa who kept the country going. He referred to the projected establish' uaent of a dairy experimental station, and a sohonl of instruction was desirable io order to edaoate those engaged in the industry to produce io times of prosperity the heat possible article, and when under stress of competition or bad times, the value went down, the quality of the produot would ensure to producers the best price in the world's markets. Responding to the toast of the Ministry, the Premier referred to tbe reciprocity proposals with South Africa, and stated that he hoped to announoe in the coarse of a week' or two tbe result of negotiations, la connection with the approaching Premier's Conference, he strongly advoocated the establishment of an Imperial Council on which the Empire dependencies would be prpsonted. The colonies should be united with the Old Land against tbe attack on British commercial supremacy. He critioised the ratification of tbe New Hebrides Convention before it had been referred to New Zealand and Australia, and maintained that matters of vital consequence to dependencies should not be settled bythe Imperial Government without colonial advice having been taken. Referring to the laud jpolicy of the Government he deai9d emphatically that the Government had any intention of interfering with the existing freehold of the* ; farmers. They were, however, trying to prevent the aggregation of large estntes. He advocated the construction of the principal railway lines by concentrating all the available labour on the individual lines as being in the best interests of settlers, v The Government was being pressed to borrow larger sums for railway aonstraotion, particularly in Otago, but this they would emphatically decline to do.