NEARING THE END

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1929, Page 3

NEARING THE END

.WORK OF;THE SESSION. >v ' , , \ • ' ‘• ’ * - IMPORTANT MATTERS TO BE * . RE ALT 'WITH. CHRISTCHURCH, October 12. “ Unless unexpected delays occur, 1 think we will be very near-the close of the session at the end of this month,” said the Hon George Forbes. Minister of Lands and Agriculture, in an interview last night. Mr Forbes said that the work of the session was now going on very steadily and good progress had been made with the passing of the Estimates, most of which .were .now. through,, .i.Those .of the Prime Minister’s Department had not yet been dealt with and they would not he brought down until Sir Joseph •Ward resumed his activities, which, Mr Forbes hoped, would be some time next week. The Railway Statement would be discussed on Tuesday night, and in conjunction with it the Railway Estimates would be submitted. LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME.

Referring to the Government’s legislative programme, Mr Forbes said that the Land Taxation Bill, which had met with such determined opposition from the members o'f the Reform Party, had still to be put through' the committee s+ages. and fhis would he done when the Prime Minister resumed. The T.aniT Bill bail been passed without anv serious oppositiqn being raised, the general attitude of the members being that the matter largely depended on the spirit' and determination put into its administration. While there was a fair amount of discussion on the Bill and a certain amount of delay, no serious attempt had been made to-prevent its passage, and it was now- before the Legislative Council. -The only division that was called for was on the clause tightening up the aggregation provisions, on which the Government was challenged by the Reform Party. “As .soon as the Bill is finally passed.” said the Minister, “ it is my intention to set up the advisory boards in the various districts in which there are large areas of undeveloped lands, and to get them to work as soon as. possible so as to give employment to a number of men in putting in the necessary roads. It is now recognised that in order to promote settlement roads are essential for opening up the countrv.”

Mr Forbes said that quite a number of properties had been purchased for subdivision purposes, and they would provide at least 100 new farms which, would he balloted for. Separate Land "Purchase Boards were being set up for the North Island and the South Island* and they would accelerate the purchase of large estates. A large number of properties had been placed under offer, but in the majority of cases the land was either unsuitable for subdivision or the prices asked were too high. Steady progress, however,! was being made and the Government was concentrating as much as possible on first-class land which was capable of closer settlement. The opportunities for men to take up land were now very much greater than they had been for many years past. ,