LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 29, 27 February 1909, Page 2

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

By Telegraph,—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A deputation from the Cheltenham district, introduced by Mr Guthrie. M.P., waited on the Prime Minister this afternoon with a request that the Government should acquire the ltiddiford estate, adjoining the Cheltenham dairy factory. It was urged that if the property, consisting of 1700 acres, were cut up it could bo reduced to farms of from i-5 to 100 acres, and that the milk supply to the, factory and therefore to the Dominion would lie very greatly increased, to the benefit of the country as a whole. It was understood that Mr.

ltiddiford is willing to sell, and thai there is a, general desire on the part ol the dwellers of the district that th< property should he acquired, and that the district slKjuld not be kept back by such an area being held in the hands of one man.

The Prime Minister said he was anxious to assist in the acquisition of estates for closer settlement, particularly those which could be cut up into small areas. This particular property recommended itself in that respect. 'The Government had had negotiations with Mr j Riddiford, but hitherto had not been able to some to terms. If a proper and reasonable price were arrived at, he wa,s favorable to acquiring the properly. The only thing he. could do was to as'k I ihc Land Purchase Board to inspect the property and fix the price, and it Mr. Riddiford would accept a fair offer he should be quilo prepared to have the acquisition carried out. That, of course, was independent of what migJit be done under the compnlsody sections of the Act, He knew that in, some cases landowners had had their properly rated at nn abnormal value with- a view to preventing the acqnislion of their estate by the. Government, but if it were found that the progress' 0 f land settlement was thereby affected the Government

would have lo bring in an amendment to the law go a.s to prevent an undue price being demanded. Closer settlement was necessary to the progress of the Dominion, and if a .satisfactory prh.'o could be fixed, he was quite prepared to recommend the acquisition of the estate.