SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 334, 9 March 1910, Page 5

SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR

By Telegraph.—Press,' Association. Christen ureh, Tuesday. The Governor paid his first and final visit to Cheivot to-day, and was entertained at dinner by the local bodies. Responding to the toas't of his health, he referred to the importance of population to the country, with a view to malting New Zealand self-defensive. He was very pleased to learn experiments were being tried in fruit culture in the country. " That seemed to be a long way off military training, but in reality the two subjects were closely connected. His idea was that there was not sufficient first-class land in New Zealand for everyone to share in it. hut experience shows that a man and his family could make a good living at fruit culture on 15 to 25 acres provided the land and locality were suitable. He suggested that instead of 200 or 300 acres being the minimum for 'farm selections, it should be 15 acres for fruit culture, ■which would prove equally profitable and would result in very closely settling; the country. Tn regard to internal defence, he said the visit of Lord Kitchener was most fortunate at the Tiresent time, in view of the passing last session of the new Defence Act, which was one of the most self-sacrificinjf and patriotic actions New Zealand had ever done. He honed it would bp possible to ndopt the scheme Lord Tvit"hener proposeTl. TTc was perfectlv certain ii' the people wre nhV to do H.. t'nev would make this country perfectly safe in reirard to internal defence, and also be of enormon? assistance to any part of, the Emm're menaced. j