Tuesday, May 7. GOVERNMENT EXPLANATION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 354, 9 May 1874, Page 3

Tuesday, May 7. GOVERNMENT EXPLANATION.

After some formal business had been got through, Mr. Koid rose, aud after explaining how it happened that he occupied the position of head of the Government, made the following statement : — He would proceed to state what the intention of the Government was in regard to tbe questions which would occupy the Council's attention during the session. First, in regard to the land question, they believed that the plan of deferred payments was one eminently calculated to settle a large population on the available agricultural land in the province, and the great aim to be kept in view in dealing with the agricultui'al lands was to obtain a large population to settle upon them. The Government were aware that the system must be carefully watched, and every endeavor made to prevent any shirking of carryingout to the full extent the conditions on which the land is taken up ; that they must insist upon residence, on all improvements required by Act, and on the due payment of the terms on which the land is taken, and certainly tbos3 things would always be kept in view. They proposed to make certain trivial alterations in the Land Act. He had heard a great many objections raised against the Act — it was not a perfect Act, but it was as good a law as could be got, considering the varied interests it dealt with — but probably many of them were raised for political purposes. The Act limited the area to 30,000 acres, and no more could be thrown open until half that quantity had been taken up. That was the greatest blot in the Act, but was one which the people iv Wellington could remove. The Government would ask that the 47th section should be repealed' With regard to section 49 and the other provision, which he believed had been an oversight, viz., compelling parties to apply at the land office within which the land applied for was situated, the' Government looked upon that as a hardship. It was a mere matter of routine, which should be able to be effected at any land office in the Province. Under the Act, 30,000 acres in Otago, and 30,000 acres in Southland, could be set apart on deferred payments, and the Government proposed, where practicable to intersect those sections set apart for sale on deferred payments with sections of similar areas of land to be sold for cash payments. They proposed recommending the proclamation of new hundreds in addition to those recommended last- session, but he was not then in a potition to state where tho localities would be or the area of the proposed hundreds. There would be 60,000 acres, 40,000 acres recommended last session, and the 60,000 acres on deferred payments, or 160,000 acres altogether. If unable to extend the deferred payment system to goldfields, they would set apart lands to be taken up under the agricultural lease system. With regard to land in Southland, there was a wide-spread feeling — whether well-grounded or not he could not say — that if a proclamation was issued, placing in the market the agricultural portion of the recently classified land,- it would be taken up iv large areas. The Goverement did not purpose issuing the proclamation at the present time. They would set aside 30,000 acres on deferred payments as soon as practicable, and, after the Council rose, the Superintendent would temporarily reserve the lands and issue a proclamation opening up such land" in Southland as the Government thought it necessary to offer for sale during the year. The dnferred payment sections would be intersected with blocks to be sold for cash, in the samo way as nr Otago. With regard to raising the price of land, the Government had come to the conclusion that it was not desirable to raise the price throughout the province, because they were aware there was a considerable extent of country, which, being only adapted for pastoral purposes, would perhaps be worth £1 an acre, and be sold gradually ; but if the price were increased to £2, would be on their hands for years to come. But lands contiguous to railways, &c, would be considered as of special value, and reserved as such under clause 85 of the Act. Those lands it was not expedient to s?ll at 20s an acre. But revenue nrast be hail, and the Government would ask power to sell pastoral land, but that would only be done as a last resort. No Government could carry on unless they had that power, and ho warned the Council that if railways were to be gone on with that power must be given, or a loan obtained through the G-ep'eral Government, or the works left in abeyance. With regard to the improvement of Dunedin Harbor, the Government would propose a vote for commencing the work, bring in a bill to constitute a Harbor Trust, endow that body with part of- the lands reclaimed, and assist it to borrow* He hoped to see a goldfields representative in the Government before the session closed.