THE PREMIER AT LEVIN.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 April 1910, Page 3

THE PREMIER AT LEVIN.

• — •■— The following is the conclusion of the speeches of the deputations to the Premier to-day :— Cr. McLeavey mentioned tlio subject of a, fruit canning industry, and emphasised the importance of proerting the local fruit growers. There was a big future for such an industry in Levin, and he hoped the Government would take action in the matter. On the cpiestion of the LevinGreaiford railway, the Mayor said he did not think previous deputations had been treated properly. The matter had been on the Estimates and nothing had been done. Cr. McLeavey recalled the. Prime Minister's attention to tho time when tho present railway had been , under water for two months .at a time and trains had been hung up. The railway would bo of the greatest utility to the district, and to passengers on the Main Trunk line. Mr Kebbell asked the Prime Minister whether lie could arrange for the Oban letters to be sent in a shorter time from Levin than was the ease to-day. THE PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY. The Prime. Minister, who was cordially received, congratulated the delegations on tha ample programme they had put before him, and said that lie was sorry he was not able to grant all that they .required. Hut he had tho responsibilities of the Government on his shoulders, and he had to consider the finances of tho country, and whether the country was aide to bear tho many improvements that were daily placed before him. So far as the (piestiou of sand drifts was concerned, it was undoubtedly an important one, looked ait from whatever point of view they liked, and he would go so far as to say on behalf of the Government that tliey would purchase a piece of native land for experimental purposes, provided it could be obtained at a resaonable price. (Loud applause.) LAND SIWTLEMtfXT.* With regard to land settlement, Sir Joseph recognised the unsatisfactory position of the ((iiestion throughout the country. The question was a pressing one, and the law on the subject as it stood to-day would have to be-altered. Government were almost always asked an unfair price, an inflated price, and this made it extremely difficult f'< r the settlers. It was almost a question of bleeding them to death. Land was being pushed up to such a price in New Zealand that it was a question whe- ■ ther it was fair to ask settlers to go upon it. So far as Levin was concerned Government would do what they could in the matter of acquiring native land, and personally he would do his very best to see what could bo done when acquired for cutting it up into small areas. (Applause.) Sir Joseph said that the decision originally arrived at in regard to the dairy school site had not been altered; matters were hung up only, on account of financial reasons which arose out of the unavoidable limits which were placed upon this dominion, in common with all other countnieSj in regard to borrowing during each year. He was prepared to do more for the fruit industry than had been done in the past, though it had done something considerable already( hear, hear!) He believed _ the Government should plant suitahlo lands in fruit trees, and thus enable itself to place people upon tho lands under conditions that would enable them to" earn money from_ fruit growing right from the beginning. (Hear, hear.) As to fruit canning, the Government always had been, and still was ready, to give help in establishing fruit canning industries where they were essential as a sideline 'to enable profitable pursuit of ' the fruit industry. He could assure them that Levin would ha as well considered in this respect as any other locality had heeu; all the ( Government wanted to ensure was , that, before canneries were establish- ■ ed they would he necessary in amy particular locality, and that they l would be worked legitimately.

RAILWAY MATTERS. Sir Joseph would give Mr Gardener .the direct answer he bad desired in regard to the Gimtford railway. The Government was quite against encouraging any private ownership of kind. Sir Jospeli recognised that there were very many hundreds of miles of railways .still requiring construction, but it was obvious that Ihe work would have to bo undertaken gradually. Levin's need in regard to Greatford railway was only one of scores of similar needs that New Zealand had. Tho Government, for tho preservation of .the well-be-ing of the country, had to protect our people from themselves. If the Government yielded to tho pressure of .those people who were desirous of having all these railways undertaken there would be a lass of the good opinion of every important financial people, abroad, whose good opinion of New Zealand was exceedingly essential for the continuance of its business stability. There was, as he had said, before, a limit to the expenditure the Government could undertake; and if permission for private expenditures out of loan moneys were given the case for Now Zealand, financially, would be njade even worse. Aind tho Government, ho repeated, was strongly against any private ownership of railways. Tf a vote had been pn.t upon tho Estimates to provide for a survey of the Greatfonl railway, he could assure them that he would do his best to have that gone through with; hut ho would bo perfectly frank with them, and tell them that the mere fact of a survey being made gave them .no surety whatever that .tho lino would - be gone on with. LOCAL REQUIREMENTS. Sir Joseph then assured tho deputation that if ho found on enquiry that the delivery of letters .to Ohaii could be compassed without the necessity for increasing the local staff of runners he would have it done. As to tho additional accommodation at Levin Post Office, he was glad to be able to tell them that plans and specifications had been approved, and tenders probably would be called in a. few weeks' time. Mr Field, M.P., thanked the Premier for his favourable replies, and expressed a hope that his less favourable ones were subject to revision.