The Premier at Hawera

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 87, 29 January 1889, Page 2

The Premier at Hawera

(per united pbess association.) Hawtsba, January 28.

The Premier addressed his constituents at Hawera this evening. There was a good attendance. After dealing with the questions of the formation of the Government and the increase of taxation, the Premier dealt at length with the settlement of land. He still thought it would have been wise to have expended a little money in assisting the small farmers, who went to Canada and other places, to come here. The House was however, against it. The next thing the Go* vernraent had to consider was how to induce the people to go on the land. It seemed to them that it would be best to make the terms easy and give people their choice of tenure ; therefore the Government had brought in their land Act, which, he believed, had worked well. In 1 887 the number of cash purchases was 414, and in 1888 they numbered 605. The de-ferred-payment selectors in 1887 numbered 326, as against 325 in 1888. But in perpetual leases there had been a great advance, the numbers being more than double those for 1887. The figures were 317 in 1887 and 663 for last year. As far as he could learn, the Land Act, with a little amendment as to detail, was giving and would give satisfaction. A good deal had been said as to village Homestead and Special Settlement Association. The settlement had been successful on the whole, but in some cases the men would never obtain a reasonable livihood, and the Government would have to consider what would be done with them. The Government had poposed last session to take a vote of £10,000 for the purpose of acquiring private lands for the purpose of forming settlements in localities where the settlers would be able to get work generally, and have their homestead to fall back on when work was scarce, but although the Committee of Supply had agreed to the vote, the House, on review of the Com mittee'B action, rejected the proposal by a small majority. He however, had very little doubt, that it would be wise to make purchases of such land for such purposes. After justifying the appointment of Messrs McKerrow, Maxwell, and Hannay as Railway Commissioners, Kir Harry referred to the question of reduction of members, and said 70 was large for all purposes. The Premier said a bill dealing" with hospitals and charitable aid would be introduced next session. la concluding, the Premier said the revenue and expendiof the present financial year would about balance.