Minister of Lands.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 5066, 2 February 1907, Page 3

Minister of Lands.

Visits Waipawa. The Minister for Lands (the Hon. R MoNsb, accompanied by Messrs C. Hall end A. Dillon, M.H.R.’s, visited Waipawa this morning and left by the express. They were driven to the Empire Hotel, where a deputation waited upon them.

Mr W. I. Limbrick, chairman of the Waipawa Town Board, said he had been asked to wait on the Minister for Lands, on behalf of the townspeople, to bring the matter of acquiring the Abbotsford estate before the Government onoe again. A promise had been made by the late Premier that something would be done, but no more had been heard about it. The people of this town had been well treated by the Government in the matter of acquiring and cutting up several estates and they knew the benefit of it. It had been suggested that the people should approach Messrs Rathboos Bros, with a view of purchasing some land, but those who knew them knew also that it was no nse doing so as Messrs Rathbone had been approached over and over again. The people here would much rather the Government acquired the property, as perhaps those who needed the land would not be in a position of fiuding the money for a froehold. There are several other matters, said Mr Limbrick, I might ■peak of. This, however, is the most important, and we trust you will give the matter your earnest attention.

Mr MoNab, in reply, said, —You all know, no dcubt, the position in regard to acquiring the Abbotsford Estate. The late Premier had it in his mind for the Land Purchase Board to secure a portion of the estate. Owing to the way the estate bad been divided, it was rendered imp ssible for the Government to acquire the property under the compulsory clauses of the Act. Negotiations had boon entered into, the owners offering to sell a portion, on condition that no property of theirs would be compulsorily acquired for five years. Cabinet bad refused to make the promise, as it was considered unwise to create such a precedent. 1 do not see, therefore, any way out of the difficulty unless any one in the room can suggest such a way. Mr Hall reminded the Minister that portions of the estate oould be compulsorily acquired, and hoped that would not be lost sight of. Perhaps this advantage oould bo used in ooming to some arrangement. He asked the Minister if negotiations had been broken off. The Minister replied that negotiations bad been suspended only. After disousßioD of a conversational nature, the Minister promised to go into the matter very carefully on his return to Wellington. Ths deputation then thanked the Minister and withdrew.