LAND MONOPOLY.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 29, 1 June 1870, Page 3

LAND MONOPOLY.

To the Alitor of the Cromwell Argus. Sir, —A petition is about to bo taken round the Cromwell district for signature, praying that his Honor the Superintendent may adopt means' to stop parties from fencing in the Lower Plat. Let me urge upon every one who has the interest of Cromwell at heart to append his name to the document. I don't know what we Cromwellians have done that our interests should be so much neglected by the Government. The people of Clyde have got their commonage and an agricultural area. Tnrning in another direction, the settlers at Queenstown, Arrow, and even the Cardrona, have their" commonage. And what privileges do we possess? Really Hone. If I want to enclose a few acres of land, I must apply to the squatter, and then may not get the piece I want. Now, this is altogether wrong: we Want to acquire a better right to our land than any squatter can give : we want a right direct from the Queen's representative in this Province. For this state of things we ourselves are 'io blame. I have been talking on the commonage question with some well-informed and clever men in Cromwell, and they say, " We have no* cattle: let those that have, battle it out." Now that is bad reasoning, because they may have cattle in a year hence; and, if they never have cattle, they have children growing up around them. These men cannot expect th»t all their children will be as fortunate in the world's lottery as their dear papas have been : some of these children must one day handle the shovel and the hoe. The parent that stands calmly by, and sees his children's birthright grasped by any greedy monopolist, is not acting the part of a good father. We want these men to join the ranks of progress ; for Cromwell has been too long in the position of a house divided against itself, which cannot stand. I think, Mr Editor, the Municipal Council should take an active part in the movement to which I have alluded. They would thus have an opportunity of brightening their faded lau* rels in the estimation of the Cromwell publicI am, &c, A Town Resident, Cromwell, May 28.