The Dunstan Times. CLYDE FRIDAY NOV. 25th. 1881.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1023, 25 November 1881, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

CLYDE FRIDAY NOV. 25th. 1881.

Beneath the rule of men entirely just The pen is mightier than the sword.

THE PASTORAL RUNS AND DC MMYISM. “ Dummyism cannot be prevented except by residence.” So said Mr Geo. M ‘Lean, in the couise of his Waikouaiti speech. He was referring to deferred-payment land at the time, and he admitted that he “saw a great hardship that people could not take up a piece of deferred-payment land, and pay for it nut of their own saving, without living on it. A business man,” he said, “ might have sons he wished to put out on land, on deferred-payment,but he could not have it without living on it himself, and of course he could not afford to give up his business. But he saw no help for it, for otherwise what was to prevent a man going and in different names taking up a large block?” Very cogent arguments these, but unhappily the compulsory residence clause only affects that class of the community which seeks but little land, and leaves untouched those who desire to possess themselves of vast areas. If a man wants 320 acres, or any less quantity for his son, or whereon to plant his future home, he cannot get it without personally residing on it. But if be wants 30.000, or 300,0-' 0 acres, ho can have it without the condition of residence, together witli the pre-emptive riuht to 320 acres, which he may select wherever he pleases Nay, more, fir by the conditions published by ihe Minister of Lands for the future occupancy of the three million acres of pastoral land coming into the market, he may select 32 I acres on every subdivision of the present runs,and take up as many subdivisions as he pleases, so that if he acquires ten runs he may thus obtain the freehold of 3200 acres of the very best of the land, and ad without residence. The law prescribes that the runs shall he re-leased in blocks carrying not more SOOO sheep. Some of them now carry 80,000 sheep and more ; each of these will make 16 of the new runs, and the probabilities are that unless some vigorous action is taken they will revert to the present holders, who in such case may take up over 5000 acres of choice fnehoid land without residence. Now, what is necessary for the small man is yet more necessary for his large neighbour. If this hard and fast rule is good for the one class it is equally good for the other. Let Mr George M I Lean's dictum be “ kept steadily in view.” “ Dummyism cannot be prevented except by residence.”