"GO ON THE LAND."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 490, 24 April 1909, Page 10

"GO ON THE LAND."

Sir,—Just a few lines to air my grievance, I came hero somo few years ago with a family, and bought another farmer out of a Government leasehold, and sold- out at a profit, having, I bo'n'sidored, ,douo fairly well. Thinking at tlio : tirno that sevoral Government 5.6. areas lvero''going to the ballot for genuine residential farmers,, and wanting more land for-my family, 1. took tho opportunity of . soiling while I had a buyer. 1 proceeded to tho Hawko's Bay .district when my transfer'had passed that board, knowing then my capital would be available. 1 went out and _ inspected the Waimarama farms, and considered tho blocks over-valued by at ileast 50 .per''cent., with very few exceptions. [However. .'I remained for tho ballot just to'hoar : .the result. I think some 70 people applied. When the i ballot was over ! . was/offered a block by a man, a perfect stranger to me, at a premium /which I did . not : waste words to ascertain, bccause the man told .mo ho had just got'jtho block as a. speculation, and intended to part with it at once. When I added, "You cannot part with it by tho Act until you complete two years of possession, one of which you must reside on tho land," be passed my remark with a snocr. I loft /no stone unturned to procure as near u I'

could ■ , tsio..difFcrence'.betweenV.my '■valuation, and that "■■■'of the Government,:. ■;and'j'.l,.did , .not; find- duo person who could appraise tho land;' up to the value of "tho Government; ■:.;.'After- ,, .-wards.-r-.was persuaded togo'out'and'.lpofc. at. the ,Tohgoio. v estatov just ornment.- ; From what: I- saw .of it; , , it.'npp'e'ars: to i i be:Va , .,rfirie i -.estote,.'-'l»aiitifully''vsituated , .-_oii i the'coast; but unless a wash-out: on'the beach is'-gtiing ,, ; to: be-obviated,in sonic '-'skilful" way, , I-should be afraid to go.for such lands.;Moreover,!'.without: wishing: "to , 'disparage'. the' G ov- : orninent's property, I must'refer'.'.'tov.i'tho blackberry, which I leanv is. an awful cursej' and if it can be banished by man or goaf, 1 am very much iri doubt. Now, .all those trips cost mo some £10, t0... say ''nothing of time. :' Then, , after waiting for ' months, .1 must go to the ballot, ;and perhaps,.several ballots, .and may never procure an acre. Dispose of laud. by. auction or tender, with upset value, and every man who has proper credentials as a farmer can apply, , and if.. 1 a board have any doubt of the individual they can put him away. At present wo are told to gamble for the land, as a marble decides your.fate. .If this is to continue, then find a means to keep, the speculator;out, or you keep tho genuino fanner out, in my case. I am just waiting to leave the country, very probably for-eyer, and I have to inform soverftl Australian farmer friends, with a good deal of capital, that this country is not "God's own., land/' in my humblo opinion. When I reached, my district again I .found my transfer had not been returned from the offico of the Minister for Lands in Wellington, although it passed the board hero, some months ago, and I can get no reply as to the reason for the delay, neither can I explain in any way "the. causo,- because I am prepared to uudergo any examination required; of. rap, and was ■ prepared .to. undergo tho same.from the Hawke's Bay Board when they passed tho transfer.- To., satisfy" themselves, after their meeting, I presume, the so-called ranger wassent to seo "that, I 'had not misrepresented anything, and;as far as I know from him on the ground there, was nothing wrongi Now,'had I thought proper to go.for land in the Waimarama estate, and got-it,- my position at the : present moment would be awkward; that is on. account of this, to my mind, unwarrantable delay; ' ■••' If: people ;br legislators here think this is the only place to procure land to advantage in-the colonies, I'think its the very worst place I have met, ~and I should not> have struck any land only , l:happened _toi meet another man just in the nick c* time. I will acknowledge I have been a .roaming farmer, but as soon as r I find the drawbacks overwhelming and ted costly, I put my figure down and go elsewhere, and I know now quite well where to go. When I got my money and reach old Australians again I "shall be, able to; talk my grievances aloud, , ; or, , if" I take the trouble,' got them'in print;'as I'know all about Now Zealand Land Acts and games, now. In" conclusion, I" shall state that I agree'.with ■the Sydhpy "Bulletin" that this is''no lonser "God's.own"iand; , ! but "Ward's.own'.land,'! —lam,' etc., " .■' ""''■'. "'-',]''"!'■ ••"'.'" '•'!■'•'■■'.■ :■/:•; ■. : "'^..-'/--'';--'.' ; ."::'.;;; .FARMEE;;;