POLITICAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1561, 18 September 1905, Page 3

POLITICAL.

NATIVE MINISTER’S SPEECH ON LAND QUESTION.

Special to the Times

"Wellington, last night. * An interesting contribution was fjnado to the debate on the land quesjtion by the iN’ativo Minister, who submitted the arguments adduced to a clear cut and trenchant criticism. Speaking of the Opposition, he showed they had confined themselves to generalities upon which they were not in * agreement, the only definite declaration being by the leader, who. expressed himself prepared to grant the freehold to Crown tenants at the original valuation. On the question there was schism in the ranks of the New Liberal party, Mr Fisher intimating that he would vote for the motion of the leader of the Opposition and freehold, while the others nailed their colors to the leasehold. Mr Carroll pointed out that there should be -an adjustment of rents, it being the money of the colony that had bought these lands, aud there should be no sacrifice to please one section. In a masterly analysis he showed the difficulties besetting the path, and declared [ the fog would be cleared by dealing seriatim withthe premier’s resolutions. He urged getting to close quarters and threshing out something of a practical value. The cry of the optional freebold only filled the air. It required a definite understanding as to the conditions. What was wanted was security of tenure to Crown tenants/ under improved conditions, whether by lease or freehold. With properly limited areas he had no objection whatever to the freehold, but what concerned the public mind was something that would prevent their re-aggrega-tion into large estates, or being made the playground for the speculative element. l'ho late Mr Kolieston favored the landlordism of the State as against the landlordism of the speculator and the money-lender. The Minister was just proceeding to i deal with Mr Fraser’s criticism of the land policy when the time limit brought his able speech to adose.

PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. The following votes of special ioterest to Gisborne are inoluded it the Pablio Works ontimates^ Gisborno-Rotortm railway ... Gisborne ga01... ... * 6QO OJolago Bay police station ... Improvements Waipitopolice station 200 Waipiro Bay post office Tokomaru Bay post office ... ••• Toparoa post office 9nn Arikibl to Wigan road East Coast road ... ••• *" 160 Fraser road (aear Motu) ... ••• * Gisborna to Opoltki ... ••• 800 Gisborne to Botorna (stock) Hawke’s Bay section ••• 160 Gisborne to Waikaremoana••• " Gisboroe to Waimala _ *** iing To Wairoa boundary, Tioiroto TaWairoa. via Te Aral ... *f' Hangaroa bridge (etook) ... *** „ n 0 j Haogaroa river to Wharekopas ... Hikuwai to To Pnia Springs ••• Karelia to Waihora ... B qq Karaka to Poututu ... „,0 Kawakawa to Ahomatariki... ••• „qq Makarika to Paekawa "•* Mangaharei to Walomatatini Mangamatiaa... ... 85 0 Mangapoiko Valley 100 Maogatokerau Volley Mt "* ggp Mangato * 280 Maraetaha ... gOO Mata river etook bridge ... ••• 2go * <j o g Motu bridge Motu Valley 70 0 Keill road ... Eubaka to Gisborne (Maraetaha bridges) ... ... ;;; 25C Paraffidmto Cook County*, boundary (Waiapn Inland) ... «• Fouparae t Fuatai to Tnawbatn * Pukstiti to Pabutaua Buakituri Valley ... ••• ,”* Bun 54 to Cook County boundary . (Waiapu Inland) gjj lapuwaeroa ... ... 2g g Tauwbateparae 2 ... **• *'* 2Q q Tokonoarn to Tuakau... ... ••• * Uawa bridge ... * 100 Waiapu to Kawakawa ... •" * Waiapu river traffic bridge ... ••• BO Waiapu Valley (Poroporo stream)... WO Weihau Bay to East Cape . Waihuka Valley, ... , 00 Walkobu Valley ••• 600 Waimata to Waiapu Inland road (through; run 48a) -• Wainui to Tolago Waipiro to Mata Wharekopae to l’ahora 2 Goodwin road ••• Hawea ... Z 2g Knight road (Argyll) ■■ ‘'i Mahia to Waikokopa iIX Mahora drains ... ... - Bgs ß g s Mangaooo g OO Springs to Waikokopu Tahaaoui ... .. ••• _ nQ Wairoa bridge ... Wairoa to Cook County boundary, , via Opolti ... .- 100 Waikaremoana, aooomodation house > road ... ••• ®. ou The following votes ; are sot fdop jtor wads to open up Crown lands: Hnwnu block. £2OO ; Moanni blook, : £IOOO , Tabora No/2 South block, £200; Tuabu block, £IOOO ; Waitabia blook* £IOOO , ' Mangapoiko block, £IOOO ; Niffiaka Wo. 9 block) £lO7 \ Waiau blook, £m