ADVANCES TO BUSH SETTLERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1371, 23 February 1912, Page 4

ADVANCES TO BUSH SETTLERS.

A DISCUSSION IN PABLIAMENT.

In the House of Keprosontativcs yestor. day afternoon Mr. G. Laurenson ton) asked the Government to consider the propriety of immediately abandoning to rule under which advances to wurucrs advances to settlers were settlers in hush districts. The vw Lithe to taken had Leon that when ho timber was worked out m (hose districts Icy would go hack. As a matter of fact, however, llio decline of the timber industry would bis more than made up for by tho growth of dairying and agriculture Mr. J-aurcuson named Ohakuno a3 one 'of tho districts that he had m mind. The Hon. T. Mackenzie said that he had no desire to reflect upon the olliccrs of tho Department. At the same lime ho felt very, strongly that their conclusion that, a town like Ohakuno was going to go back like a worked-out mining township "as entirely without justification. Anyone, could seo that it was in a fair way to become (ho centre of a prosperous dairying district, as Haetihi had already become the centro of a prosperous agricultural district. At presold. Ohakuno was tho centro of an enormous timber industry, which was likclj to last for many 3 Mr.'Malcolm (Clutha) said that ho enmc from a bush district, and would have been glad to support the proposal before tlw ILouse but for (wo reasons. One was that members had been scut (hero to get a vote (alien on the amendment siibmitied by" the lender of the Opposilion. The country was anxious to got a volo lawn on the amendment at (ho earliest possib « moment. Jle (rusted that tho result would bo a change of Ministry, which would result in (he Department under review being handed over to a Minister whoso progressive methods would mako such a disenssiou as hod taken place unnecessary. , , ~ . The Hon. R. M'Kcnsno contended that setllPM in bush districts ought to be rather more encouraged (hau settlers in open country. ~ . ~, . Mr. Wilson (Taumarnmii) dcelnred that advances wcro refused to many small settlers in this country without anj reason being given. Tho Prime Minislor undertook to havf the matter reinvestigated.