THE PREMIER'S TOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 271, 8 April 1913, Page 8

THE PREMIER'S TOUR.

VISIT TO WANG ANT I. AX AGIUCULTUItAL COLLEGE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganuij Last Night. The Prime Minister arrived in VVanganui this afternoon, and to-night was accorded a very hearty welcome at a social, organised by the Reform League, in the Drill Hall. During the day he toured the Patea and Waverley districts and visted the Moumahaki State Farm.

Speaking at Moumahaki State Farm, the Prime Minister referred to the good work being done by the cadets on the farm, and said there was every encouragement for the Government to continue agricultural education on progressive lines. With regard to the establishment of an Agricultural College, it was the intention of the Government to work in with Lincoln College in the South, but nothing would be done in the North just yet. The question was whether two colleges would meet the requirements of the Dominion. Lord Islington, the late Governor, contended that three were necessary. In the meantime, Mr. Allen, at his request, was returning via Canada, with the object of visiting and reporting upon the agricultural colleges of that Dominion. The ilovernment fully realised that, in order io compete with other countries, every advantage must be given to the youths of this Dominion to obtain the best agricultural education that can be offered. Hawkesbury College, in New South Wales, was looked upon at present as a good standard. At the social to-night, Messrs. retiree, Xewman, Guthrie, Buiek. and Veitch, M.P.'s, spoke; also Messrs. D. MeFarlane (Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce), G. Carson and Mackay (Mayor of Wangaiiui). Mr. Guthrie referred to land aggregation and repudiated the suggestion that it Wiis countenanced by the Government. It had gone on in the past and 110 attempt had been made to stop it. but he did not know of any eases of aggregation since the present Government eame in. In the past, it had been necessary to let land in large holdings, but those days were past, and as roads were being pushed, instead of aggregation, there was disintegration. Mr. Guthrie emphasised the fact that the Government advocated small holdings. Mr. Massey, in the course of his speech, covered the ground of previous speeches made in other towns on the coast, and after emphasising the advantageous terms on which Mr. Allen had secured the last Xew Zealand loan, in comparision with recent loans raised by the Government's predecessors, mentioned that since his arrival in Wanganui he had received a cable conveying the gratifying intelligence that the loan, which was raised at 08, was selling at a premium, and was now !)!)%. Mr. Massey i said there had not been a single case of land aggregation since he came into office. lie found no fault with the man who had possession of money, who took up land and made millions of blades of grass grow where iione grew before. That man was a good settler—he did not mind whether the area was five or five thousand acres; but it was another thing when a settler bought up large areas oF land and closed schools and factories, He wanted it to be clearly underdstood that that sort of thing the Government was not going to have. The Prime Minister will receive a number of deputations in the morning, and then leaves for Palinerston, en route to Wellington.

IN SOUTH TARANAKI. RACING CLUB PERMITS. At Patea yesterday a deputation waited upon the Premier with a view to restoring the totalisator permit for the local racing club. Mr. Massev, in reply, said he wanted to express his own opinion and that was this, that so far as racing in this country was concerned tha laws were in a very unsatisfactory condition. Under previous legislation bookmakers were legalised, and the Act ia question was carried by one vote only. After the evil of this system had been discovered, Parliament went to the other extreme. He might say that his sympathies were with the little clubs who were kept alive for sport and sport alone and not for gambling. He could say this, that Parliament would be given an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the matter referred to by, the deputation. Of course one member of the Government could not commit the rest. The question in reality belonged to the Minister of Internal Affairs, who was in the far North at the present time, but the deputation could rest assured he would do what he could in the matter. PATEA HARBOR.

The Chairman of' the Harbor Board asked for the assistance of the Government in putting through a Bill for raising a loan for improving the liarbor. Mr. Massey said this was a very simple matter for the Government. He could assure them that the Government would render them all the assistance it could. He was pleased to see from figures that the port of Patea was one of the principal export ports of the Dominion. He would like, however, to strike a note of warning an:l that was not to ask the Government for the necessary funds at the present juncture. They had ton many commitments to be able to do this just now. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

Later in the day Hie Prime Minister proceeded to Waverley, where he was accorded a warm reception. A deputation asked that the Government establish the proposed agricultural college for t.lie North Island at the Houmnhaki State Farm.

Mr. Mi ssey said it was the intention of tiie (iovernment to establish a college in liotli Islands. In the South Island they were going to enlarge the Lincoln College to suit the purpose. ' He proposed shortly to establish a ISonnl of Agriculture comprised of h-ird headed practical mr>n selected bv himself. This hoard would hi l permanent and would report to him 011 the suitability of MOll- - as an agricultural college. Ow£ng to financial reasons there was nn possibility of a college bein« established for some time to come. He admitted everythincr that had been said in favor of Moumahaki and was particularly struck with the point with regard to Moumahaki being on one of the main trunk lines when the Rtratford-Te Kourn line was finished. The matter would have the full attention of the Ministry. Abridged from Pa tea Press. r