ASSISTING THE SETTLER.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 563, 30 April 1913, Page 5

ASSISTING THE SETTLER.

, PRIME MINISTER AT TANGITU. WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. FOSTERING THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY. The Hon. W. F. Massoy, Prime Minister, in responding to the toaat of the "Guest" at. Tangitu on Saturj day, took the opportunity to deliver a I short address to the settlers present. IHe expressed great, pleasure at hav- [ ing been able to visit the settlement, and meet the people of the district and sog their homos. It was apparent the progress of the settlement to a large extent depended upon tho completion of the main road, and it was the Government's intention to remove all such obstacles at the earliest possible moment. Ho intended to report !on the matter to the Minister for Public Works within the next few days, and if his recommendations were accepted, ho believed tho main road difficulty would bo solved sooner than the settlers anticipated. Referring to tho work of the settler Mr Massoy said ho was a settler himself, and could appreciate thoroughly tho difficulties which the backblock settlors had to conteni with. He expressed particular appreciation for tho women who braved the hardships of pioneering, and declared it would bo the duty of the Government to provide the facilities of civilisation for tho backulocKO as soon as possible. Ho referred to the dairying industry as the means by which tho Bottlers would bo able to make good, and predicted that the

time was not Car distant when the King Country would be dotted with dairy factories. Ho understood the output of cream from Tnngitu was already considerble, and it was apparent to anyone who understood settlement that the quantity would increase largely each season. The increase in exports due to now settlement Was what was required, and the Government intended to push settlement vigorously. Recently the value of exports had been kept, up to a groat extent by high prices. Coupled with the high prices a big increase in volume was necessary in tlio interests of the Dominion. Every for the factory meant an export value of £9 or £lO a year, and it was his business as Minister of Lands and Agriculture to encourage the dairying industry. Last year ho had provided about £3500 for stocking sections with cows, and ho was prepared to go further in that respect as long as the settlers had sufficient grass to carry the additional stock. There would be a big incroaae in new settlement in the North Island very shortly. In the provinces of Wellington, Auckland, and Taranaki, an ar62 i>f about 150,000 acres of land thrown open before the end of June. *"*•——,

Mr Massey made it clear thai~*talT* ~~""" carrying out of the Government's desires with respect to public works depended to a large extont upon the state of the money market, but ho expressed himself aa being hopeful concerning tho outlook. Ho paid a tribute to tho Hon. J. Allan for the manner in which that gentleman had conducted his negotiations in London. As a result of Mr A lion'a successful mission the backblocks would benefit very considerably. The public works were carried out by moans of borrowed money, and the success of their financialoperations was an excellent thing for the country. The Minister for Public Works was particularly sympathetic towards the backblocks, and despite the financial stringency made a strong point of not having the expenditure on roads J cut down. Mr Massey said he believed that notwithstanding tho pinch more money had been devoted to road making this year than had been the case in any previous year. In conclusion, Mr Massey said he was pleased with the appearance of the country, and was glad to moot tho settlers. He thanked them for the reception they had accorded him.