THE LAND QUESTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1978, 24 October 1888, Page 3

THE LAND QUESTION.

Mr N. Wood, wrhlng from England to the "New Zealand Herald," says:— There la nothing strikes me so forcibly «s the price of land and rents m England as compared with New Zealand, and especially Auckland. This is what gtres tuoh solid oomfort and stability to England. Rents are as low In the Bull Ring, Birmingham, as they are In Qattenstreet, Auckland; the former with its 500,000 population, not counting the teeming thousands which pour In weekly from surrounding oountry towns, the latter with its 60,000 more or less, and Its position at the outside of the world. The more comparison ia absurd, and the Inflated values wa hare been pleased to put on land oannot be sustained ; they mpst come down. The competition In trade will not allow profits to pay exorbitant and extortionate rents, whether m town or oountry. Prlmo farms are being let seventeen miles out of Birmingham at 25a per aore, and nothing to do but go In and crop. Eight mlleß out of Birmingham the freeholds of .excellent farms can be pucohaaed cheaper than they can eight miles oat.of Auckland. Farmers on small lots can do better at home than here. J.'a no uae leoturlng here on emigration, unless muoh greater attractions can be offered than at present. No matter what • man has to dispose of there, be has a market at his door at some price. There are thousands of acres of land m the Waikato lylog idle — and likely to do so, for if a purchaser pomes along, euch a price )s asked aa will not allow him, if ha buys, to get salt for his porridge out gf It, It will pay the Government to give Mr Dlxon'a Emigration Society free Grown granta if it will bring sterling men and capital Into the country.