48 



GRANT OF LOANS AND ADVANCES TO AGRICULTURISTS. 



I think in districts where the transactions may not be large, 

 and where the system is well known, it may be found that the dis- 







trict officers can do all that is necessary ; but in other districts, where 

 numerous or large works may be desired, and the proprietors are 

 willing to undertake them, that some small special organization pay 

 be necessary for a certain class of works, and that there wi]Ue no 

 difficulty in arranging for their proper supervision and coj 



There is only one other remark that I wish to make, and that is, 

 that the Council will perceive the Bill is strictly limited to loans 

 made for agricultural improvements. 



I have heard it stated that, by the passing of this Bill, the 

 Government kave announced their intention of withdrawing perma- 

 nently advances for agricultural purposes that may not strictly come 

 under the head of agricultural improvements. I can only say that 

 this is not the intention of the Government, and it is possible 

 that there still may be certain loans necessary particularly under pres- 

 sure of famine and distress, such as have been given in former years 

 under the takavi system, which it is absolutely necessary that we 

 should make. There is nothing in this Bill to prevent this still being 

 done. 



The whole object of the Bill is to put, on a more systematic foot- 

 ing, the system of loans for permanent agricultural improvements, 

 which can have no other effect except that of adding permanently 

 to the value of the land and increasing the value of the property. 



I commend this Bill to the attention and consideration of Local 

 Governments, believing that it will not only have the effect of bene- 

 fiting the people, but it will also bring the officers, who are engaged 

 in carrying out its provisions, into a most agreeable contact with the 

 people, and increase those kindly feelings which ought to exist between 

 the rulers and the ruled. 



