THE PREMIER ON TOUR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1914, Page 6

THE PREMIER ON TOUR.

GOVERNMENTS PROPOSALS.: [Per Press Association.] . Hastings, February 25. At the Cold Stores banquet last night the Premier, stated that Mr J. G. Wilson, Rangitikei, had been asked to accept the presidency of the Board of Agriculture. .A gentleman in the South Island would be offered the vicepresidency. Two other appointments were to be made. The experiment tried in South Canterbury of providing five-acre farms for laborers, who paid a deposit of £25 and the balance in 25 years, had been a great success. A similar experiment would be made at Masterton, where land had been-purchased. Referring to immigration, he said that the Government would continue the policy of attracting the right class of immigrants to assist to bear the burden of taxation tnd to get a good class of settlers oh the land. With reference to the harnessing of water power he stated that Where the Government was not. * able to s utilise the rivers or streams for electricity or other purposes local bodies should be |iven an opportunity to do so. The Government did not foU?wthe,dog-iu-the-manger policy. Replying to a complaint re the class ij|f building erected on the Government irbperty t in .the centre of *‘the town, the Premier stated- that where' the Crown owned land in a city or in a borough and erected buildings thereon it should, conform with the municipal by-laws. ■* -v. I I ■.