Cook County Liberal Association.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 619, 11 June 1891, Page 3

Cook County Liberal Association.

MEETING WITH MR KELLY, M.H.R. The members of the above Association met on Tuesday night at Whinray’s Hall, for the purpose of laying various matters before the district’s representative, Mr Kelly, who is now on bis way to Wellington. The Hall was crowded with the members and general public Mr Kelly was introduced to the meeting by the President of the Association (Mr Sievwright), and met with a hear y reception. Mr Sievwright said that many at last election were anxious lest Mr Kelly, whose private interests were io the other portion of the electorate, should neglect the wants of this district. Mr Kelly, by coming among them as he had done, should dispel all such fears. He was there that night, not to speak on colonial subjects or the policy of the Government, but to get acquainted with matters of local importance. There were several matters to be brought to Mr Kelly’s notice, and he hoped members would bring them forward. Mr Birrell moved the first resolution :— “ That in the opinion of this Association the Government should, at the earliest possible opportunity, throw open all the Waste Lands in this country available and suitable for settlement.” This resolution was of the utmost importance, effecting the prosperity of this district, and cf the whole colony. It emanated from no party feeling, but was a question which concerned every individual alike. It was a glaring fact that there were many more industrious people who wished to be settled, but who were forced to look on while large blocks of land were passing from them. He wished more particularly to bring b°fore Mr Kelly's notice a special piece of land known as the Tauwharetoi Block, containing 23,000 acres, and situated 25 or 30 miles from Gisborne, and within three miles of a road. Petitions had been sent in to have this land out up into small blocks for settlers. One of these petitions bad gone to the new Minister of Lands, and he was sorry to say had been refused. The reply was :—

“ In reply I have to inform you that Run No. 50 has been taken up, and is not now in a position to be dealt with by the Department. With regard to Run No. 49 it is feared that if the few spots upon it suitable for homesteads are disposed of, the rest of the country will be left on the bands of the Crown, as no one will be found to take it up. The Run might, however, be divided into 5000-acre blocks and offered as small grazing runs, if the Land Board approve, but it is very doubtful if they will be taken up.—l have, etc., A. Barbon.” —He was loth to pass any stricture on the Government, and especially on the Minister of Lands, who was doing so much to alter what was wrong in our land laws; but he took it that if the Government made a mistake each individual should give his free opinion, io that tbs error might be rectifird. In this case he thought a mistake had been made, and although it might be urged tbst perhaps the refusal was without the knowledge of the Minister, yet he must say that the Minister was responsible to the people for errors in his department. In this case it was said the land was not suitable for settlement. He asked who were better judges of the suitability pf the land than the proposed selectors themgelve ? He hoped Mr Kelly would bring the matter before the Government, and get the error rectified before some one took np the whole block, and it passed away for ever from them. He had drawn attention to one particular instance which illustrated the general principle that all available and suitable land should be cut np and thrown open to settlers. It was the land they wanted first, and then settlers would be soon forthcoming. Mr L. Rees seconded the proposition. He recognised the Waste Lands question would be the crucial test of the strength of the Government, both regarding Crown and Native Lands. There were many more applicants than there waa land available, and steps would have to be taken to utilise the Ipnd lying idle all around them. He hoped Mr Kelly would give the matter bis best consideration, and no doubt means could be found for meeting the wishes of those who were interested in the particular block. Mr Stafford spoke strongly on the subject. He was acquainted with the block of land referred to, and had offered to take up 5000 acres cf it. He pointed out how the Government wished to dispose of this block in one lot at a comparatively nominal rental, when the revenue.mlght be greatly increased by curing up the block into smaller areas. Mr Williams, the Crown Land Commissioner, bad recognised this, and told him that Government had already been petitioned, and had promised to have the matter conaidered, but be had heard no more of it. He thought it was a great mistake to allow the Crown lands to be taken up in large blocks. Only the other day a member of the Legislative Council was up looking at the land and would probably try to get it at a rental of £BO. (Laughter.) Mr Sigley was quite in sympathy with the resolution, but believed that there wgg no fear of the present Government letting the land in blocks of 23,000 acres. He felt sure that it would be cut up first. Mr Hills wanted to know what use it was to lay out a township alongside a large block which was allowed to remain intact. Mr Matthewson had no doubt that the Government would try to give every satisfaction in regard to bona fide settlement, but fhe fault yras that the matter had to be referred to that wonderful body the Hawke’s Bay Land Board, of which the members were such large landholders as Mr Ormond. He urged that they strive to get a Board in the district. (Applause.) The Chairman thought that the best way they should take in regard to the block under notice was for a number of them to make communication with the Government in the matter, and he felt that they would see that the Lands Board cut it up properly. The motion was carried unanimously with applause. Then, at the suggestion of the Chairman, Mr Matthewson moved that it was desirable to have a Waste Lands Board in the district, pointing out that it was impossible to have the lands properly administered from Napier.

Mr Akroyd seconded, saying that the members of a Board in Napier could not possibly have the local knowledge necessary in dealing with the land. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Sweet then took the chair, and Mr Sievwright proceeded to deal with the serious unemployed difficulty, for which he thought some remedy might be obtained by an application of the principles of the Loans to Local Bodies. He thought that the money would be much better utilised in enabling men to become producers, instead of making unnecessary and unprofitable railways. The speaker moved :—

“ That it is desirable, and even necessary, some modification of the principle of the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886, should be applied by Parliament to aid in providing a remedy, more or less complete, for the unemployed difficulty, by settling unemployed persons on the lands cf the colony, either waste land or land to be acquired. The following suggestions are made as to leans: 1. Loans, for effecting improvejnents on tfie land, tp be made in connection with'the establishment of special settlements or colonies of settlers under tbe Land Acte, and to be charged on land, 2, Loans to be made repayable, principal and interest, by annuel instalments extending over 30 or 35 years. 8. Interest and sinking fund payments to be at lowest rate Government can lend money without lose. 4. Loans not to exceed £llos to £2 per acre taken up by applicant, a. Appliiantj to enter into contract with Government for execution of specified Improvements, pl usual rates | and progress payments, so far as desired, to be made as work advances, upon certificate of an Inspector. 6. Advance payments, to a limited amount, for purchase of materials and food, to be made at the outset when found necessary. 7. The principle of Co operation by the special settlers to be given tgect to where possible in the contracts, in prler to the better and quicker completion of improvements,” —A captious person might take exception to tbe sixth clause, but he did not see how it could be avoided. Mr Sigly seconded the resolution. It was not quite what was in his mind, but it wag near enough to it. The speaker then referred to the great distress that there now

was on account of tbe unemployed. It was necessary that any enlightened Government should make some effort to solve it, and he felt that the system proposed would have good effect. But he also thought « that co-operation should be availed of. If people of the description mentioned were settled on blocks of land, and worked on cooperative principles, he believed it would be very successful. The Village Settlement scheme had been of some service, and he believed if it could be worked in with the loans proposal, that the unemployed would soon be producers. The motion was carried unanimously. Messrs File and Sweet drew attention to erroneous statements that had been made regarding the Association’s opinion on the education question. It was e’ear that there was unanimous feeling against any curtailment of the system. Mr R. N. Jones brought up the question of a Deeds Registry Office, saying that a great deal of the charges for work in the place was taken up in agency. They did not want to send down to Napier every time when they required some information that should not be more than a few shillings, and yet would perhaps cost a guinea or more. Wanganui, Timaru, and New Plymouth had bee allowed to take advantage of the Act as to agencies, and he thought Gisborne should have the same right. It was the clients who had to bear tbe great expense of sending to Napier ; some firms found it cheaper to send one of their own clerks down than to pay the large agency charges. Mr File seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Gallagher referred Mr Kelly’s attention to the importance of having the millions of deposits in the Banks taxed. Mr File asked what was Mr Kelly’s opinion on the question of a reduction in the postage duties. He though the reduction should be made on something else, which view was supported by Mr Ollivier.

The Chairman thought it would hardly be right to trench on fiscal questions. Mr Akroyd expressed a hope that in the establishment of Labor Bureaux, Gisborne would not be neglected, so that men would not be coming to the place in fruitless search for work. Mr Stafford also suggested that the clearing of bush might be considered in providing work, as many might not care to go on the land as settlers, and yet might get into the way of it by starting bush clearing. Iu regard to the postage question he regretted that such a less had been made. Mr Jones referred attention to the necessity of more reading work being done in regard to the lands for settlement.

Mr Kelly took ths opportunity of thanking his supporters, and also his opponents for the fair way in which they had acted, On enquiring into the matter he found that there was not much land available in the district for settlement. He intended to try and get the Government to purchase a large area of the Waiapu native land. He was much surprised to hear what had been done in regard to Tauwharetoi, and would wire to the Minister next day, and ask him to cause any action to be stopped until he had interviewed the Government in Wellington. He was strongly in favor of the land being cut up into suitable areas. As to the Land Board, he thought they should have one in Gisborne, or failing that, that there should be two local representatives on the Board. He believed, in regard to the unemployed that the Government were making it "a policy question; it was a matter that should have his earnest attention. As to a doed registry office, the Government were cutting down expenses, and there might be difficulty to get the convenience, but he thought it was desirable, and he would urge the matter on Government. He was afraid, concerning the nine million lying in the Banks, that to tax it would drive the money out of the country, but he would give the question further attention. As to a labor bureau, he hoped that they would not require one here, and that work would never be scarce in the district. Regarding the necessity of roads, he was getting full information from the County Council, and would further urge ths matter when * he got to Wellington. There had been no large Government expenditure in the district, and he thought when they showed so much self-reliance that they should be well supported, and hs would try and get the assistance of other members to ensure justice being done. The speaker concluded by heartily wishing the Association success and increased influence.

Mr Birrell, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr Kelly, said he thought that gentleman had quite dispelled the erroneous impression sent abroad during election time, that he would not look after their interests. He reminded him, however, that they should have an eye on him. (Laughter.) The motion was seconded by Mr Jones, and was carried with loud applause. Mr Kelly said he had asked them to keep an eye on him, and he hoped that they would always pull together for the general good. He promised to keep the Association supplied with copies of Hansard, of Bills of interest to the district, and of Parliamentary papers presented to the I?ouse.