MR PYKE’S MEETING.

Dunstan Times, Issue 889, 2 May 1879, Page 3

MR PYKE’S MEETING.

(to the editor of the dunstan times.) Si a— In reading over Mr Pyke’s speech at Clyde, or at least that part of it in which he gives the history of the 4th clause of the Waste Lands Act, it seemed singular to mn that the House could have been so easily misled as to the effect of it, knowing as it did that the existing law provided that all lands open for sale on the deferred payment system were to be sold at the ordinary selling price, with half added. However, the question now is to get this mistake remedied as soon as possible; and it will be necessary in order to this that the people stir themselves in the matter both speedily and earnestly. This is a subject which interests every colonist, no matter what his pursuit or calling may be—squatter or selector, business man or labourer, mas’er or employer-all who call New Zealand their home will feel the weight of taxation which must result from the immense debt which the Colony now labours under. It must be evident that the more there are to share this burden theilighter it will be on each ; and it must also be evident that the Colony could support comfortably a very much larger population than that which it at present contains. It must be clear also to i hose who look well into it, that if the whole burden were to be borne by the present population, the weight of it would soon become altogether intolerable ; and although the greater part of it would as usual be laid on the shoulders of the working classes, yet so much of it'would fad on the landed proprietors as would make it very warm even for them. When we come to consider what proportion the floating population bears to that which, being settled on the land may he considered permanent, the matter becomes still more serious. The raising of the price of Land under such circumstances is .as if a tradesman or dealer amongst a number of others in the same business, having heavy bills to meet and being short ot funds, should attempt to resolve the difficulty by doubling the price of bis goods. The natural effect of which action would be not that which he desired, but that’ of driving his best customers to deal with his cheaper rivals. We have incurred a great amount of our vast debt (foolishly, do doubt) in introducing immigrants wholesale ; and instead of giving them all the facilities possible in order to induce them to settle permanently in our midst (knowing as we do that we are in the proximity of Colonies who have as great, if not greater, inducements to offer them than ourselves), we at a stroke doable the price of the only article which we have to offer as an inducement to them to throw in their lot with us, thn a not only running the risk of driving themjaway to our neighbours and taking with them a considerable share of the money we have had to borrow for tlie purpose of bringing them here, but breaking our promises to them as well. For it is well Known that the greatest bribe our immigration agents bad to offer when canvassing at home was the promise of cheap and good land. And it is very certain that whatever land near the coast may be worth both in itself and ami from its position, there is no land in the interior which is worth more than one-half the price now fixed on it.

As to the Government not having reduced the price of themselves, it seems to me that they could not do it if they wished without the sanction of the House, for whatever may have been their intentions on the first introduction of the clause, they must have since found that the effect of it was to double the price of deferred payment lands as dictated by the judges, and that it could now only’ be altered by' the House itself. But the people, who have never raised their voice against the increase of price, are most to blame, and the people of this county in particular now, after the excellent speech; of Mr Pyke, must stir themselves earnestly in the cause, and give their member that support in the House without which the best man can do little or nothing Apologising for the length of this letter, I am, &c., An Old Colonist. Blacks, April 30th.