IN THE BACK-BLOCKS

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 859, 4 July 1910, Page 8

IN THE BACK-BLOCKS

SETTLERS' DIFFICULTIES. DEPUTATION TO LAND BOAED. A deputation representing settlers from the back-blocks districts of Kaitiekc and Relaruke, near Wnnganiii River, waited liixm the Wellington Land Board at its last sitting in support of a petition asking that their holdings should be brought under the iiush and Swamp Act. It appeared from iheir presentation of the case that wheu they took up the land they were under ilic impression that it would carry 2J sheep to the acre, and they had found that its carrying capacity was limited to 11 sheep per aero. Tliey had been granted two years' exemption from rent, but wheu they obtained loans from the Advances to Settlers' Office tho two years' rent was deducted from each loan. They had great difficulty in bringing stock to the laud owing to the want of reasonable access. One settler, for instance, had lost 20 sheep at a river crossing. Such roads as they had were practically useless. The six-foot track cut by the Roads Department was unsuitable/ for traffic. They submitted that theirs was a case in which the remissions of rent and rates provided for in the Bush and Swamp Lauds Act of 1903 might fairly be applied.

Views of Members of the Board. Mr. H. T. Bllingham, the tenants' representative on tho board, said these settlers were a very deserving class, and were entitled, if any settlers were, to the benefits of tho Bush and Swamp Act. They had worked hard and cleared considerable portions of their holdings, and wero now faced with tho difficulty of raising enough to pay their rents. Owing to tho ground being covered with moss, the grass would not take for some time. Unless they could bo given the benefits of the Act, it was more than likely that they would havo to sell out,, probably to some speculator, who would reap the frniis of their labouis. * Mr. J. Georgetti said chat although not a tenants' representative like the previous speaker, he, would not be going beyond his functions in supporting tho petition. He had been over the land, and ho agreed with what Mr. Bllingham had said. The valuations on which rents were based were ridiculously high, such as 325. Gd. per acre, as compared with 225. Cd. on adjoining blocks. He know it was beyond the board's power to extend tho Act to these settlers, but tho board should make representations to tho proper authorities in favour of something being done for the settlers. Mr. ,f. Dawson also held that some relief should be granted.

Tho Commissioner's Attitude. The Commissioner (Mr. James Mackenzie) said that what the deputation and Mr. Ellingham wanted would require new legislation, which was not in tho board's power. When the matter came beforo the board about a year ago, they did tho most they could do for the settlers by allowing a postponement of the payment of the rents for two years. That affected tho board's revenue to the extent of £2000 per annum. What had been said about the high prices of tho land was somewhat inconsistent with the fact that, when tho land was thrown open, üboitt 1700 applications were received. Moreover, in the case of every transfer that had come before the board thcro was a large consideration, or goodwill, the value of the improvements that had bceu disclosed. In some instances tho board had refused to sanction transfers with large bonuses where not a singlo tree had been felled. As to the alleged disappointment with l.lio carrying capacity of the land, 110 pledge was made in this matter when the land was offered for selection, and, apart from that, laud carrying II sheep to the acre was at any rwto very fair country. It was, however, too soon yet to say what this land would produce.

The Reading Difficulty. Road construction was in the hands of another Department, but he would point out that when the block was.openod (lie Wangamii River was looked upon as the main highway of that part of tho country, and access was given to the sections from that sido of the block. The river tariff was made prohibitive, and tho Aiain Trunk railway came along, causing tlio sottlers to look in that direction for their outlet. Roads were now being opened in that direction, and with a little patience things would come right. The loading for roads had all been spent except a few small balances. There had also been special Parliamentary votes for roads, and in the ordinary course there would bo others. Tho settlers wero simply passing through tho hardships that were incidental to the first five or ten years of back-blocks settlement. Tho Raetihi, Mangaweka, and Taihapo people had been through it, as well as the l'ahiatua, Pongaroa, and Malcuri people beforo them. The district now under notice really constituted at the present lime the back-blocks of the Wellington land district. He thought one special

cause of difliculty was that tho country, from ils configuration, compelled subdivision with areas which were generally of 1000 to 2000 acres, and (lie men who came to the ballot hardly seemed to have capital enough for such large areas. Thus a man who could only afford to improve 100 acres had to pay rent on 1000. This was a matter which tho board, at the tinio tho land was lakeu up, had no power to control. After a discussion in committee the hoard agreed that to give pllect to the request was impossible under o.\i>ting legislation, but it was resolved that the Commissioner should write to Hie UnderSecretary for Lands pointing out tho difficulties of the -settlers.