MINISTER OF LANDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1919, Page 2

MINISTER OF LANDS.

| VISIT TO DAKNEVIRKE. J ! By Telegraph.—Press Asaoeiation. | Dannevirke, Hay 21. ! Mr D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, at Dannevirke last evening met a number of local deputations, one from soldiers urged the speedy opening up of the Tiratu Block, an increase in the ■ Government grant in specially approved cases, an alteration in tenure to perjmit 9 soldier to 'buy out a neighboring soldier if be -wanted to. The Minister held out no hope of permitting soldiers aggregating land an this way, and said that the extension of the present limit of advances was a matter for Cabinet. 'He said that Tiratu would be opened in July, and the ballot held in Dannevirke. A water supply for the block would be provided and the sections would range in area from 100 to 250 acres. The Minister was also approached by the Chamber of Commerce on the subject of land aggregation. He said he was fully alive to what was going on, and intimated that in certain cases under notice the provision of the Act of last session would be put into force if the present intention of the suspected aggregators was carried out, He intended to make an attempt to close the loophole in the clauses of the last Act relating to aggregation. Other matters dealing with the shortage of railway trucks for stock, repatriation and the electoral headquarters of the Pafaiatua electorate were brought under the Minister's notice and will be referred to the different Ministers concerned-