THE PREMIER'S TOUR.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1718, 8 April 1913, Page 5

THE PREMIER'S TOUR.

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES.

THE LOAN: GRATIFYING NEWBt

LAND AGGREGATION.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Wanganui, April 7, Tho Primo Minister (tho Hon. W. F, Massey) arrived in Wauganui this afternoon, and 10-night was accorded a very hearty welcome at a "social" organisedby tho Reform League in tho .Drill Hall. During tho day he toured tho Patea and Waverloy district's, and visiiwl tlto Mou' mnhuki' State Farm. Speaking at Moumahaki, tho Primo Minister referred to tho good work being don© by tho cadets on tho farm, and said there was every encouragement for tho Government to continuo agricultural education on progressive lines. With regard lo (ho establishment of an agricultural college, it was tho intention of tho Goveminent to work in with Lincoln Collego in tho south, but nothing would bo dono in Hie north just yet. Tho question was whether two colleges would meet tho requirements of tho Dominion. Xord Islington, the lalo Governor, • contended that throo were necessary. In tho meantime Mr. Allen, at his request, was returning via Canada, with tho object of visiting and reporting upon tho agricultural colleges of that Dominion, Tim Government fully realised that in order, to compete with other countries ovenadvantage must be given to tho youths of this Dominion to obtain tho best agricultural education thut can bo offered. Hawkesbury, . in New South Wales, was looked upon at present as a good standard. At tho "social" to-night, Messrs. Penrce Newman, Guthrie, Buick, and Vedtch, M.l.'s, spoke, also Messrs. D. MTarlano (chairman of the. Chamber of Commerce), G. Carson, and Mackay (Mayor of Wawrauui). ■ Mr. Guthrio referred to land aggregation, and repudiated tho suggestion that it was countenanced by tho Government. It had gono en in tho past, and no attempt was made to stop it, but ho did not know of any eases of t aggregation since tho present Government camo in. In tho past it had been necessary tx> let land in largo holdings, but those days were past, and as roads were being pushed on, instead of aggregation thero was disintegration. Mr. Guthrio emphasised that tho Government advocated small holdings, i' MaSsey, in the teourso of his speech, 'which covered tho ground of previous speeches mado in other towns on tho coast, after emphasising tho advantageous terms on which /Mr. Allen had tho last New Zealand loan in comparison with.', recent loans raised by tho. Government's predecessors, mentioned that' since his arrival in Wanganm ho had received a cablegram conveying tho gratifying intelligence that tho loan which: was raited at, 1)8 was selling at a premium,! and was now OOiJ. Mr. Massey said there-was not a single caso of land aggregation siuoo lio. camo iiito office. - Ho found no fault with n man who had possession of money and took up hind and • made, millions of blades of grass grow whero 110110 grow before. That man was a good settler. Ho did not. mind whether tho area was fivo or five thousand acres', l>iit it was -another thing when a settle!* bought up" largo areas of land and closed schools and factories., -He wanted it to bo clearly understood that thai; sort of thing ' the Government was not going to have. Tho Primo Milliliter mil hear a number of deputations in tho morning. Ho will thon leavo for Palmprsbon North, en routo to Wellington. '