PLEA FOR BUSH SETTLERS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 442, 24 February 1912, Page 5

PLEA FOR BUSH SETTLERS.

MR WILSON URGES CLAIMS. [IIY TKLKURArir. —I'RKSS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Thursday.

With a plea on behalf of small I settlers, Mr G. K. Wilson, the new I member for Taumarunui, introduced himself to the House of Representatives this afternoon. Upon the presentation of a return a debate arose regarding the refusal of the Stateguaranteed Advances Office to make advances to settlers and to workers in bush townships, and several members urged that the bush districts should be relieved from this handicap. "There are many settlers in this country," said Mr Wilson, "who are endeavouring to obtain small advances from the State, but their application-] are refused without any reason. These people are not in a position to visit the cities and urge their claims, and the result is that their applications are being refused daily, though they offer good security. They are working at all times at high tension to bring their holdings to a successful issue financially, and any assistance which can be given to them, even if the State takes a small risk, will, I have no doubt, be repaid in the final clearing up." Hon. R. MKenize, Minister for Public Works, contended that settlers in bush districts ought to be rather more encouraged than settlers in open country.

The Frirne Minister promised that an inquiry would be made regarding the matter.