The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1870.

Dunstan Times, Issue 450, 2 December 1870, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1870.

'.Beneath.the Rule of Men entirely just the pen is mightier than theswoßD

Although no practical result is likelv to be arrived at from the discussion, in the Provincial Council, on the subject of free selection ; still it was premature. In fact, any measure that is likely to affect the general interests r of the province should be delayed until the public shall have had an opportunity of expressing its opinion upon it. "VVe look upon a number of matters that have been discussed lately as purely electioneering “claptrap.” The present is a special Session f the Council, called for a special object, and it is seemingly ridiculous to take into consideration other business, unless of a very urgent character. Tiie subject ot free selection is one 'that affects everybody, and none morn, fth in residents in up-country districts, so it must not be peimitted to be made a subterfuge for the acquisition ot political capital at the forthcoming ■elections. The question is far too momentous to admit of being trill :d

with. There is no quest!..uim; the feet that out- land system will admit of considerable improvement, and, perhaps, after all, free selection will best suit the exigencies of the occasion. We may remark that ’t has already been tried in a modified form on the goldfields, in the shape of the ' agricultural lease system, and the result has been satisfactory. Had it, iv t been for these leases the goldlields would have become almost depopulated Provisions would only have been obtainable at famine prices, and, unless actually engaged in gold-mining, the laborer would have found no employment. It. is cheap living that has developed the goldlields, by placing it in the power of one man to aceom plish what two con'd scarcely have attempted before. Al i tiers who have been fortumite, and have saved money’ instead of leaving for elsewhere, have settled down and made themselves comfortable homes, and, wherever we go, we see thejbenefic'al effects ot the agricultural lease, system. Almost every suitable valley and nook lias been seized upon and ultivated. Tho only fault we have to find with the agricultural lease system is that the two shillings and .six pence per annum rent does not form a portion of the purchase-money. This system is very successful in Victoria, and we do not see any reason why it should not be equally successful here. Land is of no more value here than it is there in fact, we should be able te offer land upon better terms, so as to attract population, our prestage as a field for immigration not standing so high in ihe estimation of people at home as the colonies on the Australian continent. The principle of deferred payments might be extended t<J other portions of the province besides the goldfields, and dnubtlestga considerable area'of land would beoccupied through this means. Land of itself is of no value. It only acquires value when it becomes utilised, and, wanting population as we do, what better inwe to offer for people to come and settle among ns than cheap land 1 It has long been our opinion that we might extend, with considerable advantage, the agricultural leases system to grazing, and grant depasturing lease areas upon j precisely similar terms, only that the area to be leased should be much larger, say from five hundred to five thousand acres, the price of the fee simple to range, according to the quality of the land, say from five shillings to ten shillings per acre, the rent charged to be in proportion. Since so much laud has been thrown open for depasturing purposes on the goldfields it has been plainly shown that the grazing capabilities of the-country are considerably higher than was estimated—in some distric s as much as three to one. It appears to occur that the depasturing regulations do not work so satisfactorily as could be desired on account of the impossibility of preserving boundaries, more especially in the case of sheep. By leasing the land all these difficulties would be obviated, and it would pay persons to fence. They could make improvements with safety, and more stock could be fed, as there would be no waste in keeping boundaries, or rather in the attempt to do so. We are not advocates for free selection before survey, as great confusion will ultimately arise from it and, for all purposes of settlement the country can be mapped off fast enough. Free selection, with deferred payments, cannot fail to prove other than highly beneficial to the interests of the province; but, as we said before, the subject is of such paramount importance that, before an 3 alteration is made in the existing land laws, the public should be consulted, and an expression of opinion elicited as to the most desirable manner of dealing with the waste lands Rash legi lotion is only productive-of harm, and much has to be done over again. If members seeking to be again returned have any new ideas on popular subjects they will have ample opportunities of promulgating them at the ensuing elections, without wasting the time of the Provincial Council in moving for impossible and injudicious measures.