MINISTER OF LANDS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16432, 28 January 1919, Page 7

MINISTER OF LANDS.

VISIT TO SOUTH CANTERBURY,

(special to "the i'hess.")

FAIRLIE, January 27. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, loft Christcliurch this morning at 8 o'clock by motor-car on another stage of his month's tour of portions of the South Island. Heavy ram was experienced after leaving Ashburton, and between Cleraldine and iairlie the downfall was the heaviest experienced in the district during the last lour years. At Clayton the Minister was met by a large gathering of settlers and was welcomed to the district by Mr S. A . Bray (Sherwood Down Settlement) and Mr J. (j. Guinness (Clayton Soldiers Settlement). The position of the soldier settlers as a jesult of the recent heavy snowstorms was brought beforo tho Minister, who advised them to send individual applications for the assistance required direct to the Land Board, when each cn.so would be decided on its merits. Several settlers made a very strong appeal to Mr Guthrie to throw open lor selection by returned soldiers the remaining portion of Clayton, which ?£.declared was eminently suited for subdivision. The present lessee had Riven an indication that ho was prepared to negotiate should the Government deem tho remainder of the block suitable for subdivision, and tho Minister promised to obtain a careful report °n the proposition. ENTERTAINED AT FAIRLIE.

i « Onthrie was welcomed 3 by leading citizens and was afterwards 1 ®P" }r^ n * n ed at an informal dinner by 5 if- Mackenzie County Council, at which, in responding to the toast, of I , s health, the Minister said his pri ! +ip a ' was get in touch wil ■ ? r° different soldier settlements, ai ■ 'f the nion being settled in the soul generally wore cf the same stamp ; those ho had met nt Loo's Valley ar Clayton, success was practically a sured. Tlic Government had bee criticised most severely in connexic with its soldier settlement policy, ar ii? to give the assurance thi tho Department was out to help tl: returned soldier settlers in every po sible way, but tho necessity for plaein the right class of man would be a] parent, as it practically spelled tho di ferenco between success and failuri Mistakes have been made, bi greatest care was being observec 1 jig Government hiitl silso been criticisi for not throwing open for selection b returned soldiers unimproved land sue as the pumice and poor gum lands c tho north, to _ assist the developmen of the Dominion, and he wished t make it clear that the Department ha large blocks of unimproved lands bot m the jNorth and South Island whie would bo thrown open for selectio: when the fit men returned. The grei majoiity of tho men now returning wei not in a fit state to place on sucJ lands to undertake pioneering work. Later in the evening Mr Guthri received a number of deputations a tho Council Chambers, amongst wJiic was_ a request from the Cncklowoo< soldier settlors for a water suppi; scheme, as the sections were absolute!] devoid of watej.'. _ The Minister there upon arranged with th© chief cirninag engineer to obtain a report on tho pos Bibility of obtaining a supply. I The Mackenzie County VJouncil madi a strong request to tho Minister t< bring Ben Ohau and lliioboro Down: blocks, which ar© about to bo cut U] for returned soldiers, under the smal glazing run tenure, so as to assist th< development of tho district and onsur< greater revenue to the county for road ing and bridging purposes. The Minister stated that if such t principle wer« gonerally adopted, ii ■would only be a matter of time when the compulsory residence clans© would have to again be applied to small graa ing runs. Another deputation, consisting of representatives of local farmers, strongly urged the Minister to purchase three blocks of land, aggregating about 3000 acres, close to Fairlio township, for closo settlement, and stressed its suitability for such purpose. They alsc said that tho price asked was most reasonable. The Minister promised to have a report on tho lands made, and said that he would personally inspect them next morning. He added that the Government was anxious to buy suitable land provided excessive values wer© not asked. To-morrow Mr Guthrie will go to tho ETermifrngo, where he will reranm for th© nicrht, and will proceed to Kurw ria Pukaki and Benmore the following Jay.