VISIT FROM A MINISTER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 867, 13 July 1910, Page 5

VISIT FROM A MINISTER.

. REMARKS BY THE HON. T. . MACKENZIE. ~.-;. The president- briefly'welcomed -the Hon. ].'.'.' Mackenzie, (Minister of Agriculture)- and 1 other members of Parliament.. -..-

The Minister, said ,the ,: Government - and Parliament would.be only."too glad to have the advice of the .conference after., its, deliberations.,:• Running over the conference order paper, the Minister stated that, in connection with the. question of the collection of grain statistics, the. method adopted .last year, at'the-instance of tho-farmers, had not succeeded. That was attributed to unforeseen circumstances, and not. to anything wrong with the system. The question of. collecting such statistics was one of great difficulty, and was engaging the attention of the- interna-, tional. organisation founded by-the King of Italy. Tlie officers of the Department would give ihe greatec'fc assistance in the compilation of, the journal to-be published by the Department, but there were ma-ny subjects .on which outside assistance .would be very.useful. In regard to the Agricultural ■Implemeiita Act, he believed something' would ho done this /season. A Bill dealing with the guaranteeing of-seeds was on the stocks 'It was, he thought, necessary to deal, not only with the germinating power' of seeds, but also their purity. There should also be some assurance, as to the stock from which the seed came, aud the system.of -culture employed: The Department was very, desirous of securing; tho''purity of skim-milk supplied to young animals,-and was. very grateful for tho assistance of farmers in this matter. -Steps, were, necessary in this direction, so as to check the increase of tubcreulosiswhich .was threatening the pig industry." . The. Taieri Dairy ■ Conmany had established ' pasteurising plants for skim- milk at" all its factories ata'costof about. £12 10s. each. The Department,was. collecting information ...on the , registration, of brands/against the next conference ol the agricultural and pastoral societies. He thought it would be generally admitted;. that the. High . .Commissioner's cables, with the, exception, of two occasions when there was good reason., had been regular and ■' reliable. ' The ' proposals in the. remits as to stock'inspect tion and other-matters would-involve'a good .'deal of money. • Some, people thought the. Department of Agriculture should be carried oh at less cost, but ho. thought more- money should be. spent, as the Department could employ! it very usefully.. ..'..'

The Department 'was.bringing three more veterinarians to , New Zealand, but more, would-be .required.,, if the Government was to carry .out. all .that was suggested on the conference order paper. In regard to.noxious weeds, he thought the most .that','could 'be inr sisted on was. to :prevent .them seeding and-spreading to, clean districts. Some people, were asking Jor-'. the. repeal of the Act. That was : a. matter 'for the farmers. The Government did not take any pleasure in prosecuting-people. The Minister soon : afterwards withdrew. . .' ''•,''

Land Ballot System. Mr. J. W. Jones (Taranaki)' moved : "That in disposing of Crown lands where there is more than one applicant for a section, it ought to be submitted to competition, so* that those most' in want of land -would- have ah opportunity, of securing, it, and 'the owners,get market value-ior-tho same." The prevention of speculation was the main agreement advanced by. the mover. Mr. H. A. Nevins (Teniii) . seconded the motion. He''.read;.'.a'letter,. :the writer of which suggested, that political considerations had had;'something to do with the selection of settlers for some larid- : in the 'neighbourhood of Pukotoi. '

Mr. ; O. P. Clothier (North Canterbury president) gave.an' instance, of'a man who drew a section in a ballot, and immediately got £1000 on his bargain. Mr. Eustace Lane strongly supported the principle of tho'." ballot, though aumitting that tho system • could- be amended. The -ballot should bp regarded- as everybody's chanco of acquiring a piece of land,, and the examination of applicants as' to, their means should he abolished.

Mr. J. M'Quecn (Invercai'gill) said that when a man could get a. thousand pounds on his bargain " immediately after a ballot, there must bq.something very wrong with the system, and it should be amended or some other system adopted* Ho would oppose tho motion.

Mr. J. Talbot (South president) opposed the motion. When land, was sold by' auction,. it often brought moro than it was worth, and the buyer was consequently embarasscd. ' Mr. K. Maxwell (Opunake) said that under the present ballot system, the man who reully wanted to uso the land did not got' it. more,.than onetime in

a'hundred. It was generally bought by the,settlor, from a speculator who had Bucoecded'at-the ballot. The money that thus ;went to the speculator ought rather.to go to tho State. The best settlers on the Waimate Plains had bought their lands at auction i'rom the Crown. . Even if the proposal before the meeting would be unpopular'with the townspeople oncl the speculators, that .should not. deter the conference .from passing, it. Mr. W. M'Arthur (Otago) said that salo by auction made tlio land too dear for tho farmer, whereas the ballot gave everybody :\ chance. A man with a family and no capital could Rot land at tha.ballot and make a living by hard work.

Salo by Tendoi*. , ■Mr. H. J. Middleton (Southland) said-sale by tender had been tried and had failed on Mr. M'Nab's estate. Prices were too high and relief was successfully sought from the Government by way of revaluation. He quoted an instance of a man who tendered £8 ls. 6d. an. acre, and afterwards got a revaluation/of £1 7s. 6a. That man was a speculator if ever a man was. He knew he. would get the land on his tender, and he counted on a revaluation.

Major Lusk.(Te Kuiti) said,the argument- about, speculation was exaggerated. Every applicant was examined by the land boards..'

Finally, a oonimittoe, consisting of Major Lnsk and Messrs. M'Quecn, Talbot, Jones, Birch, and Hockly was set up to report to-day on the whole question of the ballot system or any alternative. ' Constitution sf Land Boards. Mr.'. F. E.' Hockly. (Huntorville) moved tho following Wellington remit: . "That, all land boards consist of five members: two to. be elected by the Crbwn. tenants; the Government'to appoint two, and thc Commissioner of Crown Lands in each district to be thc chairman, and that better provision should bo' made for payment of out-of-pocket expenses of members.'' The. president urged that one representative of the tenants of such a," largo land district; as' Wellington was insufficient, as tho -representative could not know, the whole district. The Government's interest 1 in the land was equivalent to only one-fifth and the tenants' to four-fifths. Tho Government would still have-ample power on the board, as the commissioner had the right of veto, or. could stop the proceedings. They' were for tho great concessions, made by the Government in granting any representation at all. The. motion was carried. Piako Swamp, ■ Mr. Jones (Taranaki) moved: ■'..That the .farming community appreciates the Government's action in giving applicants, the. right of purchase of the Piako Swamp (Crown lands;. Mr. ■■ E. Lane: I've been there, and had a look, and lean quite understand the Government's action;

Mr. : _F.'G. Horrel Worth Canterbury): I've- lived there, and I- can quite understand the last speaker's remark. A. -' E.. Russell (Pal.morston North), Mr. H. A., Nevins (Tenui), and other, speakers," suggested.* that as the Government had given the option 1 ol purchase :iiv this • case, the conference ought to 'thank them, even if. the concession ■: was :not...worth much. . ~The motion was carried. . Land Settlement. Mr. H. A. Nivens (Tenui) moved: That tho Government ,be asked to open the Crown lands on the east side of the Puketoi. range to public competition,, and under the optional system.

The. mover explained that the land was already open, but not on the optional system, and it was felt that political feeling was influencing the settling of tho land. The land in question consisted of 3000 acres of rough country, surrounded by settled lan'tl.

Discussion took place as to whether, the question should 'have come ■■ before the conference at all, or should have been dealt with by the provincial branch. .

Tho matter was postponed pending inquiry' from the Crown . Lauds Commissioner, and it was subsequently reported by the president that tho Commissioner stated that two or three settlers alongside the block in question had represented to the board that their holdings were too small to\ make *. living from. The board bad let. them hayo portions, of the block adjoining their own holdings on renewable leases, but tho .balance of the block would shortly be opened' on the optional ■ system. Ho considered that; in view of this explanation, the motion was unnecessary. , .The motion was withdrawn. Afforestation. . Mr..G. H. Crookstown (Otago presddent) moved: — That, the Government bo requested to continue. without cessation the afforestation of lands -throughout tho Dominion, particularly in treeless parts, such as Otago Central; and that tho reserves set. aside for this purpose be planted.

, Tho ill effects of deforestation on agriculture,, climate, and mining were enlarged upon by the mover. Timber in New Zealand was being destroyed at the rate of 25,000 acres a -j'car, but up to last year only 1200 acres had been, systematically planted. Mr. Grossmann in his book attributed the floods at Wanganui and Blenheim to deforestation.. '■■ ■

Mr. Hi J. Middleton. (Southland president) seconded the motion. Major Lusk (Auckland president) said' that: in his district alono 20,000 • acres.'of bush wore being destroyed every year. He considered that in three or four years.all the kauri forests would have disappeared,. commercially speaking, .and that those which, remained would bo only 'for scenic aid ornamental purposes. In 20 or 30 years all the other forests would be finished for commercial purposes. Mr. E.' Maxwell (Opunake) said that the need for afforestation was a very strong argument in favour of freehold tenure. The supply of timber from Australia would soon cease. Land-, holders should, be encouraged to plant trees. He had planted many trees on his own place, and the only encouragement he got from the Government was that his .valuation was put up, until a particlar piece of land was valued at £45 per acre, a much higher price than any other laud within 25 miles; He could only suppose that every single tree had been valued, and added to the unimproved value. . Mr.' R; Evans (Canterbury) a'so spoke ■of the rapid disappearance of bho forests. Good results had been obtained from plantations in Canterbury. He did'not'know where tho timber for butter-boxes was to come from in 25 years' time.

* The'president: Five years' time. Tho president' suggested the following addition to tlie motion: — That the'conference is of opinion that a. sum of not less than £100,000 should ho spent per annum by the Lands Department in reafforestation, or in encouraging private individuals to plant thoir lands-with .suitable trees. ■

This addition was accepted, and the motion was carried.

Fencing and Weeds on Crown Lands,

Mr. O. I'\ Clothier (North Canterbury) moved: "That the necessary steps be. taken to havo tho Crown made responsible to road boards or local bodies for full rating, and for fencing, and the destruction of noxious weeds, on its. lands, occupied or unoccupied."

Mr. Clothier-'.said then* wen: .17,01)0 acres at Oxford which paid no rates and taxes, and thus caused loss to the locnl bodUw. People who bought land nest to privately-owned land had to

pay only half the cost of fencing, but if it was next to Government land they had to pay all tho cost of tho fencing, or do without it. In regard to noxious weeds, tho Government ■ was a worsusinner than private individuals. It was explained by Mr. K. Evans that the land alluded to was held as a run, and would ho valuable if it were roadod.

Hi. H. A. Nevins (Tenui) said it would be too much to ask the Government to keep all Crown lands clear or noxious woods, but it should keep clear all railway lauds and other lands it had in use.

Mr. E. Lane (Hawke's Bay president) .said the motion would ask the (invcriiment, to do more than was possible. After hirthor discussion, the motion was _ iimeiitlod to read as-follows, and oiirrmd:—"Timi lhn necL'sßar.v Up taken to have the Crown made responsible for fencing, and the destruction of noxious weeds, on its unoccupied lands." Settlement on Native Lands. Mr. Jl'Arthur (Otagp) moved:— "That lhe union approves of tho purchase of native lands which are not individualised, to be disposed of on the optional system, as in many cases this would mean a great advancement in the district concerned and henefit the Dominion, and where cash purchases of native lands are made, the proceeds of such sales should be invested in trust for the vendors." This was carried. Rates on Native Lands, Mr. W. J.. Birch (Marton) moved :- "That the non-payment of rates on native lands has become, a very serious grievance to European settlers'in mainparts of the North .Island. That th" only sound remedy for this is to place the Maori in the same position as the European as speedily as possible. That tills conference is therefore of the opinion that every effort should b» made to individualise native lands, ivluch should tbi-n bo lcgallv liable for the payment of rates and taxes. Thai; the Native:; holding land on these terms should have all the privileges and responsibilities .enjoyed by the European, including freedom to dispose of their land by sale or lease. "This conference is also of opinion that where blocks nf Native land are held in common are benefited by expenditure of rates, such land should bear its fair proportion... to be a charge! against it, to b« rc-eover.iblo on safe, lease, or imiiviilualisutioii, and to be. advanced by Government until .inch time as either-of tho said or any other circumstances admit of its recovery." This was seconded by Mr. Hockly 'Huitterville), who urged" that the time had passed when it was necessary to treat the Maori as a child.. All "legal differences'"between Maori and European should be -done.away with. It. was impossible to sue a Maori for rates without the consent of the Native Minister, and he- had never been known to give his- consent. Major Lusk (To.Kuiti) said.the only solution was. to sweep, away all legal distinction- between European' and Maori. " ' Mr. J. Lane (Hawke's Bay).said'that certain rich squatters in' Hawke's. Bav bad got hold, of 4600 acres, of Native land, in spite of h.-gal restrictions. - Major Liisk(Te Kuiti). said--hc< could oxplain this. It was to tho;. benefit of. all parties. Mr. Lane: Everybody' should have an equal chance. Major Lusk: They have. Tho motion was carried., UiMmprovocS Value. Mr. E Maxwell (Opunake) moved: That as the present system of valuing land for taxation' purposes has proved a complete failure, owing to tho impossibility of accurately separating tho unproved from the unimproved value, this conference considers a much fairer and much simpler way would bo to tax on the annual value, with the same exemptions as capital invested in other industries, the annual value to be five per cent, of the capital l value.

The mover complained that when a farmer improved the condition ,:f the soil.so as to increase the carrying cajiacity of thc land, the Government valuers put all the difference on.the un 7 improved value. Improvements were being confiscated every year.

A vote had not boon taken when tho conference adjourned.'

The conference sat in committee last night; and will meet- again- this morning. ' . ■