THE PRIME MINISTER.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13337, 1 February 1909, Page 9

THE PRIME MINISTER.

« VISIT TO XAPIER AND GISBORNE.

(rHESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) GISBORNE, January 30. Sir Joseph Ward, who was a fehrough passenger by the Manuka, visited Gisborne this morning, being welcomeii by the Mayor. The Premier spejxt the morning rc-ceiving deputations on various local mattcire, and going -thoroughly into the question of tho future disposal of grazing runs leases, many of which are falling in. Replying to a deputation, Sir Joseph Ward said he thought the time had arrived when there should bo a separate Land Board for this district, owing to the large estates to be dealt with. 4

Ileplying to a deputation of runholders on the question of small grazing runs, th« Premier deprecated the suggestion that the. Government had lookt-d at th« matter from a political aspect. An attempt had been made to influence a Southern constituency adversely to the Government over this matter. Such conduct he regarded with supreme contempt. If the Government, in settling the kind in tie interests of the country, wins to consider what political views persons interested held, he, for ono, would not be a member of tho Government. He announced in regard to eeve-ral runs that liad been man-tiou-ed, that tho Govornm-ent had decided to allow lceeees to retain possession of land they had brought from a wild state to its present conditions of settlement. Tho other cases -would bo carefully consid-ered on* tJieir merits. This announcement was receive*! with expressions of approval. NAPIER, January 30. The Premier informed a reiporter that Mr O. . li. Mackersey's Tangoio Estate, comprising 8500 acre 3, had been placed , under offer to the Government through the member for the district, Mr J. Vigor Brown, M.P., and he had instructed the ohairman of the Land Purchase Board to examine and report on the property, and, if suitable, it would bo acquired for closo settlement.