A MINISTERIAL BANQUET.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8056, 14 November 1906, Page 2

A MINISTERIAL BANQUET.

MINISTER FOR LANDS ENTERTAILED. WYNDHAM, November 14. Hon. R. McNab, Minister for Lands, was entertained at a banquet last night. Responding to the toast of his health he said at a non-poli-tical gathering party politics must be eschewed. On the land question the fiercest party battle raged but in connection with the Department of Agriculture there was very little difference of opinion. His remarks, therefore, were chiefly devoted to matters connected with that department which he stated the Government would keep in the extreme front of their political platform, recognising that the agriculturist was the man who kept the country going. The establishment of a dairy experimental station and school of instruction was desirable in order to educate those engaged in fhe industry to produce in times of prosperity the best possible article so that when under stress of competition or bail times values went down the quality of the product would ensure to the producers the best prices in the world's maikets. I he Premier referred to reciprocity with South Africa and stated that he hoped to announce in a week or two the result of the negotiations. In connection with the approaching Premiers' Conference, he strongly urged the establishment of an Imperial Council with colonial representation. He criticised the ratification of the New Hebrides convention without reference to colonial advice being asked. Referring to the land policy of the Government, he denied emphatically that the Government had any intention of interfering with the existing freehold of farmers. They were, however, trying to prevent the aggregation of large estates. He advocated the construction of the principal railway lines by concentrating all available labour on individual lines, as being in the best interests of the settlers. The Government was being pressed to borrow larger sums for railway construction, particularly in Otago, but this they would emphatically decline to do.