THE MINISTER AGAINST LANDS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2019, 21 December 1888, Page 3

THE MINISTER AGAINST LANDS.

In a recent article vve expressed t\v opinion that the Hon Mr .-. Kichardsoi was missing his opportunity m no inking advantage of tho turn of tli< tide, and facilitating 1 and encouraging settlement upon public lan Is of tin. colony. Since then wo have been confirmed m that view by perus»ng what transpired at a recent intcrviov with n deputation m Auckland, of which the following particulars havo been telegraphed : — " Cnpt Daveney, addressing the Minister, said there were a number of officers — non- commissioned and warrant officers — now m India, desirous to settle here. If good block's of land were placed at their disposal for military settlemont, thero would probably be £30,000 a year distributed m pensious, so thero was uo fear of such men looking to the Govern ment for anything more than good land. He mentioned that some thirty- five warrant officers, picked men, who had j raised themselves from tho ranks by their ability, would be leaving the service m tho Punjaub alone on tho 30th of Mafch next, all having pensions of from £90 to £120 a year, and who would make good settlers. Mr Richardson replied that m the present temper of tho Assembly not'iing could bo done directly or indirectly to promote Immigration. Under tho terms of tho Land Act no special blocks could bo set apart for the special benefit Of outsiders. He authorised Captain Daveney to communicate with tho men m India and try to get thorn to associate themselves into a Special Settlemont Association as formed on the Forty mile Bush." Now those who arc readers of " Hansard " do not need to be told that this question of Pensioner Settlements is by no means a new one; indeed, if wo recollect rightly, so far back as the administration of Mr Itolleston, enquiries were made m India as to the feasibility of inducing paid -off military men to select New Zealand as their placo of settling down, and we distinctly differ from Mr Richardson as to his idea of the views of Parliament m connection with the matter. We have not the smallest doubt, whatever, that Parliament would sanction the setting asido of special blocks of land for Pensioner Settlements if this were necessary, but we do not think that it is necessary. What Mr Richardson, however, might, and wo think ought to, do is to send over to India maps, and plans of the land available for selection, and advertise m the Indian papers the easy terms under which" it can be taken up on any of the systems of tenure of which there is so amplo a choice under our liberal Land Acts. But this is exactly what Mr Richardson wo fear is not likely to do. if wo are to iudcre from a

j - - /-- . J O~ ™ " report which Mi 1 Carson recently gavo to the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce of another interview with that gentleman. Wo quoto from the " yeoman " ; — " Mr Carson must have had to go against his grain last night when ho reported to tho Chamber of Commerce what tho results of his interview with tho Hon Mr Richardson had been. Ho commenced by saying : — ( I found him a perfect stick, and could do nothing with him at all.' On the matter of giving further publicity to land Bales, Mr Richardson * thought ho was doing very well ' with his maps, etc. This did not suit Mr Carson's views, and ho put a direct question — ' Don't you think it is tho duty of tho Government to -lead tho people m tho way of settlement.' ' No,' replied tho Mhvster, « and with tho < no,' ' said Mr Carson, 'ho left tho room, so that I could do no more' A courteous Minister this, indeed ! How do tho other members of the Cabinet take it ? He went to two or tlireo of them, and they shrugged their shoulders, and did not 6cem to like it." fc'o tho "Yeoman" dubs Mr Richardson afresh as " the Minister against Lands " and remarks " and this is the man who is entrusted with . tho department tho successful administration of which is at the present timo of tho utmost importance to all sections of the community !"