Land Settlement.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 March 1911, Page 3

Land Settlement.

• SPEECH BY A MINISTER. LPKR PRESS ASBfWUTION.^ GISBORNE, This Day. A deputation of about fifty sottiers met the Hon. McKenzie (A! mister for Public Works) at Tolnga Ray last nigiht, and the district requireI ments were brought luider lii.s notice. With regard to Tolaga Bay bridge, the Minister said that a Government subsidy should have been obtained before its crcction, but as the work had been completed the Auditor-General would not now pass the item if a subsidy were granted. The ration area should be extended, bringing Waiau and Gisborne in, if necessary. In regard to land for .settlement, the Minister said that a great demand for this existed throughout the country. The difficulty was that where the Government signified its intention of acquiring land compulsorily, owners raised the price to such an extent that the Government could not let ifc to settlers at a. reasonable rental. The Government, therefore, had to pay through the nose for every acre thus acquired. He advised them to take advantage of the Land' Settlement Finance Act, and said: that the Government was taking estates wherever they eoukl find them at a reasonable price. Mr Macdomld, M.P., referring to the Lnndi Settlement Finance Act, said that nlo measure which had ever been put on the Statute Book had ever given a man of small means a. better dhiance to get on the land. The party proceeded to Tokomnru to meet a body of settlers from Tolaga Bay. The meeting urged that the Harblonr Board, in .again leasing Tauwhareparae block, should out it up into small holdings instead of only six sections. Mr Macdonald said lie would try to arrange a special meeting_ of the Board to consider the subject.