RE GOVERNMENT PURCHASE NARBEY'S ESTATE, BANKS PENINSULA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 955, 24 October 1910, Page 2

RE GOVERNMENT PURCHASE NARBEY'S ESTATE, BANKS PENINSULA.

Sir,—By virtue of one of our land' laws, if a number of people band, themselves together for . the taking over ah. ostate, ,tHBy can call on the. Uovernrfient to purchasq tho said property for them, providingthe. price is satisfactory:V They. then!:' .become Crown . tenants, ■ and the . ..Government receives rental^for their, outlay! .This is what has ;,been done by-a'.select few to endeavour to. get the Stato to acquire ,the-above''property.'.. ~I do riot'think. it was fever intended; when ■ this .Act was passed for transactions . such ; as this'to go-through without inquiry. The intentions, I take, .it, .were that .if sixteen: : separate arid distinct,. persons . wished to become bonU tide farmers i and selected an approved;'estate, the Government could purchase' on ' their behalf. .. But the case under notice ;is quite different.. The people- cbmppsing this coterie are not all farmers—some are tailors, etc. . Then their children, (under ago) are amongst the numbers to becomethe settlers.; Surely, sir, .while •the land, hunger, is so great it is not- to::the country's .interest, to . buy. Jand to put dperent members of one family ,on tlie soil in this : manner. Minors and single people should be barred'. tiH' the married, folks are settled, and then preference to the largest families shown. The State should purchase the property. It would 'be a good investment, and a good and proper thing for, the district, but •it should be submitted.to ballot—l am, etc.,. SEARCHLIGHT.