The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1870.

Dunstan Times, Issue 410, 25 February 1870, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1870.

Bansath the Uulc of Men entirely Just the ten U mightier than the SWORD

The new Land Law of Victoria is well worthy the attention of New Zealand"Legislatoi 8, and while Aus* tralia is hidbing so high for population, we must not lot slip our own opportunities for inducing settlement. Occupiers under tins new Act, may acquire the freehold upon very easy and equitable terms, as after payment of tw> shillings per acre, rent for the first three yea«*s they have only to make a further payment of fourteen shillings per acre, or if they choose they may then take a seven years leaae, and the two shillings per acre, rent will go towards payment for the freehold, and upou the last amount due for rent being paid, a Crown Grant is issued. The conditions o(' • ccupancy are as follows, " half yearly payments of rent in advance, licensee not to assign, transfer or sublet, under penalty of license becoming void; to enclose the laud with a substantial fence, and cultivate at least one acre out of ten within the first two years, and the license to be annulled unless these conditions are adhered to within six months of the issue of the lease." Nothing more liberal could possibly he expected, and this new Aet presents a strange contrast with our cheese-paring system of half-a crown per annum rent and 11. per acre ag the end of three years, or during or at the expiration of the .-even. Tiie agricultural lease system has worked veryadvantagoously in promoting the settlement of population on the goldfield*, ;>nd we do not see what objection there can be to extending it over the whole of the wa te lands of the Crown. It is very clear that we must fin something, or people will avail themselves of the superior attractions held out by Victoria, It has always be°n our opinion that the rent paid by Agricultural Lease hoiders should be set against the purchase of the freehold, and it this cannot be done wholly it ought to be so in part ; for instance, after three years occupancy further payments shou d be counted as part of the purchase money, when we shou'.d 'ho in a position to hold out such inducements to inunigranfs as well as our own population to be savins; and industrious, that they might acquire land and choose New Zealand for their future homes ; also, induce others to jdn h h«»m in occupying the country. An agricultural population is, without doubt, the backbone of any country —newer old —and, with increased facilities for occupying land, there will be a corresponding increase tu our laboring population from the fact of the existence of inducements to labor. Victoria has set a very worthy example in the liberality of her land laws, and the attention ot legislators should be directed towards making some reform in ours.