THE OMARAMA RUNS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2312, 20 November 1914, Page 6

THE OMARAMA RUNS

TO BE OPENED FOR SELECTION. ; (By Tolssraph.—Special Correspondent.) < Kurow, November 19. The Prime Minister to-night address-' ed what was probably the largest poll- . tical meeting held in Kurow, the large: hall being crowded to the doors. Mr. • Robert Gillies presided. Mr. Norton Francis, the Government candidate for ',' Waitaki, also occupied a seat on the platform. Mr. Massey was in excel- -. lent form', and delivered a . vigorous; fighting speech. He dealt with defence, : finance, and particularly with'the land • questions. Considerable interest at- : tachcd to the subject of the Omarama runs, the leases of which are shortly - falling in, ond about which many mia- • statements had been circulated regard- . ing the Government attitude. Mr. Mas-'' s'ey emphatically stated that there would be no extension of the leases; •' , that several survey parties were, and Had been for some considerable time, at • work, and he hoped that the iuns would lie open for selection about, the end of •>. March- next. The present scheme pro- , •vided for fourteen subdivisions. These V would consist of eight small grazing ■runs, three pastoral licenses,' two sub- " divisions suitable for small fanning, and " . one for rural workers' homes. The' Prime Minister, who'is also Minister of Lands, fully satisfied tlie'audience by ---- his explanation of the position and the ■ proposals of the Department /regarding...! these runs, his remarks being received ■■ with great applause. . Mr. Massey dealt \ at some length with the ■ industrial : troubles of last year, and strenuously defended the Government against the allegations made in conuection with the . recent mining disaster at Huntly. He • stated that the whole mAtter would be fully thrashed out in the Supreme Court, • and the country would then be in a position to apportion the blame on the right shoulders. _ ' . At the conclusion of Mr. M.assey's .. speech a hearty vote of thanks and confidence was enthusiastically' carried,.. and the meeting closed with cheers, for the Prime Minister and the. Government. Mr. Massey was afterwards entertained at supper.