PUBLIC MEETING ON THE LAND QUESTION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 433, 5 August 1870, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING ON THE LAND QUESTION.

A public meeting, convene! by J. Hazlett,Esq., mayor, was held at the Clyde Hotel, Clyde, on Saturdry Evening last. Mr Hazlett, who was voted to their chair, said: The object of the meeting Was to consider the question of memorialising the House of Representatives to amend the Land Laws. He said that from Tuaprka, Waitahuna, Alexandra, Black's and other places memoriols hap been forwarded r.ll expressing one desire. He had convened the present meeting to obtain an expression of opinion from this district. The object sought was "Free Selection" within the boundaries of the Goldfields, and "deferred payments." As there ware resolutions to be passed, he did not consider it necessary to say any further, and would c all on Mr. Fenmd to propose the first resolution. The following resolutions were then proposed,- Ist., That the present system of leasing the land on the goldfields for agricultural purposese being detrimental to the interests of prompt and prosperous settlement of the lands, should be abolished. . . 2nd.,-That 'all the lands on the goldfields should be at once thrown open for free selection in blocks not exceeding 320 acres under deferred payments of 2s. 6d. per acre for eight years. 3rd.,-That the Government be requested to extend the system of deferred .payments to the present lease-holders, and that credit be given them for all monies paid as rental as and for purchase money. 4th.,-That the Gouemineut be memorialised to amend the existing Waste Lard Act, and that the Crown be requested to resume possession of all lands within the goldfields in the hands of the squatter fit for agricultural purposes. Mr. Feraud having read the above resolutions, entered at great length into the question, exposing the evils of the preseut system and laying bare the bene tits the country would derive from the adoption of the principle as expressed in the above resolutions. Mr. Mi Arthur seconded the rasolutious, which were carried. Mr. Beck suggested that a committee of three be appointed to draw up a memorial embodying the foregoing resolutions. After some discussion, Messrs Hazlett, lugs and the the mover were appointed. The meeting then closed with a vote of thanks to the chair. A memorial was drawn up and signed by about a hundred residents, in the disrict, and forwarded to J. B. Bradshaw, Esq. M. H. 8., to Jay on the table of the House. We regret our limited space will not admit of publishing it but in our next issue we hope to do to.