STATE ADVANCES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3924, 28 March 1929, Page 2

STATE ADVANCES.

AUTHOR OF THE SCHEME. In a letter to the Southland Times Mr. Andrew Mackintosh y Tefers to the origin of the Advances to Set* tiers scheme, claiming that his father, once member for Wallace, was the author of the idea. Mr. Mackintosh said: — “I wish to correct ‘ a statement made by the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, a't a banquet given him in the Drill Hall on Wednesday night, giving himself credit for the great scheme of State advances to settlers, which has been the means of putting thousands on a safe footing in New Zealand. That our Prime Minister is a great statesman and belongs to the old school of political inventors who have done so much for the colony canno't be denied .by one and all, but my father also deserves some credit, seeing that he devoted the greater part of his life for the advancement of the colonies, representing electors in both Australian and New Zealand' Parliaments. I believe in the old motto: ‘Honour be- to those to whom honour is due,’ hence any reason ; for protesting against the above honour being given to Sir Joseph, which my laJte father, Mr. Jajmes Mackintosh, took to the grave with him,- and which I aim proud to uphold. In proof I have the original papers <o£ the scheme in my possession, together with the State Bank scheme. The latter, unfQrtunately, was not - introduced . through iiny father's death, which, no doubt, would have also proved a blessing to the colony, the main advantage being that every colonist should be a shareholder, however small. “However, returning to the State advances to settlers, I may mention the original papers of the scheime I possess date back to 1883, and there is mention of free addresses having been given by my father in Sloan’t Theatre, Invercargill,’ in 1.885, also addresses being given in 1886 at his own expense in many parts of Southland and the north on advances to settlers. Sir Joseph would then be a little boy, or at any rate too young to handle such a •scheme as the above. I remexnbes a similar credit being given Sir Joseph at a banquet given him at Eastern Bush shortly after my father died, when several present protested. However, Sir Joseph ended the mlatter by asking all to rise and drink in silence to the mdmory of Mr. Mackintosh, late member for Wallace”. Sir Joseph-Ward, in reply, sayla he never claimed to be the originator of the idea, but he prepared all the legislation and-piloted in through the House.