LABOR SETTLEMENTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1924, 21 August 1888, Page 3

LABOR SETTLEMENTS.

The oorroapondent of the "Dally Times *' writing frond Wellington says ; — A deputation of Auckland members having waited on the Premier to urge the necessity which exists for assisting the village settlements, the head of the Government; has decided to place £15.000 on the Supplementary Estimates for that purpose. This Is to be expended on village setclements where situated, an? not to be confined to the Auckland district. The faot of £10,000 having been set apart for the labor settlements Inspired the Auckland representatives with the idea of forolog the Government to assist tbe village settlements ■. Auckland In the eyes of Its rep'esentatives Is tbe " hob " of the universe, and tbe rest of the colony may sink so long aa their own provincial dls* trlot awima. Since despatching my previous message on this Bob] act, I have gained some further Inforrratiou regarding the Government's labor settlements. The £10 000 whioh the Premier promised to place on the Supplementary Estimates will only be given conditionally, In case the Grown Lands department cannot provide sufficient land for the proposed settlements, The Minister for Lands informs me that he hopes through the Pablio Reserve {Bill to be able to provide all tbe land necessary In order to placate the Northern membera. It is proposed to place a sum on the Pablio Works Estimates to be spent on village settlements m tbe North Island. The pertinacity of Major Steward In the matter of the labor .settlement has had the effaot desired, The Premier this afternoon announced his intention of placing £10, COO on the Supplementary Estimates for the purpose of establishing labor settlement m the Middle Island. The Premier's announcement is not likaly to be received wirh much favor by the Northern members, who think that such % concession to the Southern representatives Is a one-aided arrangement SirG. Grey is opposed to It, and argues that ft Is playing into the hands of the wealthy to plant numbers of laborers on patches of land adjacent to the large estates, so that ohoap labor n.ay be always at hand. Sir George thinks that the system is likely to produce a race of serfs. M* jor Steward informs ma that he desires to get £25,000 for the projeot, but he is glad to g*t £10,000 as an instalment. He predicts that the labor settlements fiohome will turn oat 9 great success. The Wellington correspondent of the "Auckland Herald" writing on the question says : — A. meeting of members favorable to tbe establishment of labor settlements was held recently. M»jir Steward presided. He' explained the steps taken m the early part of the session In regard to this matter, and that the motions he had placed on the order paper had slipped off. It was desirable now to determine wbat should be done further to get such settlements established m various parts of the colony. After a desultory conversation the following deputation was appointed to wait upon the Premier :— Major Steward, Messrs Perceval, TurnbuU, Buxton, Oowan, Walker, Dunoan, Oallaghan, Lawry, Hodgkinson, and MoGregor. I understand the Auckland membera generally are holding aloof, preparing to work on their own lines, and to endeavor to secare the £10,000 on the Supplementary Estimates for the further extension of the Village Settlement Scheme. The deputation to the Premier, appointed at the forenoon meeting, upon labor settlements, waited upon him tonight. Major Steward Introduced the business at considerable length. Mr Lawry pointed ont the great danger whioh would follow if the proposal were adopted without grew*; safeguards, as Involved estates might be purchased under pressure, and Impecunious Individuals would thus become benefited at the expense of the State. He, however, was ttrongly In favor of settlements of the nature Indicated, if the oonditlon were such as to prevent-wrongdolng, and he entirely endorsed the opinion that, with due oare, the Government would be recouped for any outlay la this direction. The Premier and Messrs Walker, O'Oallaghan, and others supported this view of the question. The Premier asked If the Government would be expeoted to build houses on the land proposed to be granted, and was Informed In the negative, as there would be numerous appUoatlonr from persons able to build houses for themselves, and those who could not do so oould obtain assistance. The question of tenure was also considered, and It was decided that a perpetual leasehc ld system wodJI absolutely prevent the small holding from becoming reabsorbed m large estates if an Inquiry should at any time spring up for land In the localities. The Premier expressed himself as being gratified with the interview, and said he would bring the matter before the Cabinet. Major Steward Informs the representative of the " Auckland Herald" that tbe land scheme In connection with the labor settlements wh'ch he propounds Is simply an enlargement of the English dootrlne of "three acres and a oow," only In this oase the suggestion is that the land elnuld be acquired by the Government In districts where work Is available, and should then be either let to laborers, or sold to them on easy terms m allotments of from five to ben aorea. The main idea is that the workmen should be able to live on the land during the winter when employment la Bcaroe,