THE COMMONWEALTH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2085, 10 January 1908, Page 3

THE COMMONWEALTH.

REMARKS BY SIR JOHN MADDER N. LAND SETTLEMENT AND DEFENCE. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, January 9. Sir John Maddoru, Chief Justice of Victoria, who has come to Now Zealand on a holiday, states that the Commonwealth generally and Victoria in particular are at present m a very prosperous condition, and that enormous expansion and progress aro apparent. The necessity for irrigation is being very goneruTy recognised. A good deal is being done, and tho Victorian Government has in view a scheme involving tho construction of a dam bigger than that at Assouan on the Nile. The Government is this State is pursuing a vigorous policy of land settlement. Largo estates are acquired by voluntary bargaining, the price to settlers being based on the prices paid by tho Government. Tho time within Which purcliaso may be made from date of occupation is thirty years, and tho Government in many oases will advance money to settlers. Payment is made on tho Credit Foncicr system, and the Government charges -1 per cent. The 'results are eminently satisfactory, and there are few arrears of payment. Under the close settlement scheme no person is allowed to havo land of a greater value than £ISOO. There are some who say the price paid for tho land under tho scheme is too high, and they desire the passing of 'a Bill limiting the price compulsorily. There is, however, no difficulty ill settling the lands at the prices asked. Mr. Bent (.Premier) has said that lie is ready as soon a« the Comomnwealth has decided on a basis for a national of close settlement and irrigation to throw open two million acres of laud for such purposes. In regard to tho defence of tho Commonwealth, Sir John Maddern says the great majority of the people thin’k that there should be a general compulsory system of military training. The difficulty^will bo in regard to the organisation of such a scheme. At the present time, he said, no enthusiasm was manifested about Mr. Deakiu’s' proposals, but on the other hand no hostility was noticeable on the grond that tho scheme was of a compulsory character. Everyone recognised that both for the purposes of defence and discipline it was due to the State that they should have some training, and they also recognised that such a course would have an undoubted educational value amongst elder men. There was apprehension lest the scheme might lead to some disruption of business,. but tho reply advanced to that argument was that men in training should be paid for their services.