MR FRASER'S CANDIDATURE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1034, 2 December 1881, Page 3

MR FRASER'S CANDIDATURE.

TO THE EDITOR, Sir,—lll the matter of hundreds Mr W, Fraser is opposed to M r Fyke’s card. The Tibnir. pest had liccome such a serious matter that it would he inadvisable to have one foot of hind unclaimed hy some person, who could he made by Rabbit Act to keep it clear, oven if he did not do so for his ovn sake. Commons iu some instances had become regular raobit wanens, ami the people were tired of them, and in most instances would bo glad to get rid of them The same thing would be the resu.t of hundreds—settlers on or near them would so.in be praying for them to be occupied. Before dealing with the rabbits, let rae take the question whether the present or future holders of agricultural areas—the miners and other dwell-os in Central Otago will be most benefited by having suitable hundre 's around them, or by having every* foot cf the land owned or held by some person in some shape or form. This question involves the prosperity or otherwise of the bn;k of the present and future dwellers iu the interior for the ensuing ten years, excluling, of course, thoss who are or will he engaged in pastoral pursuits. Large suitable hundreds mean prospe ity ; every foot of the land lease lor claimed by some person means pauper settlement. Lands suitable for hundreds are the best of the lands adjoining present settlements, lands around or convenient to mining centres, including lands known to be or likely to be auriferous which of course would be exempted fiom purchase or settleraeht; lands of the best quality, where settlement is likely to soon spring up ; cattle country, whether fitted for settlement iu small areas or otherwise. The mining and other reserves should bo lirat mapped off, the balance immediately surveyed into sections or allotments of various sizes, the good portions in small areas, the inferior or mixed in larger areas, and opened foe selection at fixed prices on deferred payments, agricultural lease and immediate purchase, Debarred as the settlers iu the interior are from getting a rua'kot for the general produce of their fauns, the only way that the present or new settlers on agricultural areas can make a little to keep things going as it wore, until they can get their farms improved and divided into paddocks and made more productive, and until the coming railway brings a market within easy distance of them, is by getting a privilege to run some stock outside 1 heir own fences. Hence I say* that hundreds are indispensable to the prosperity of small land-holders or agricultural settlement and are required by miners and others Ask Mr-Donald Held, or any of the early settlers on the Tniuri and Tokomariro Plains, what they v *crc indebted to the large hundreds for, which then exisledall around them ; if they speak their minds they will admit that without hundreds settlement would have bten-stifled. Settling the into'ior now is almost similar to what settling those plains in the early days was. As the hundreds are occupied and become smaller, the settlers' farina will become improved and more productive, anil with a convenient market opened by the Central Otago railway, the settler years hence will be able to do better out of his *BOO acres though confined to it alone,as he can at the presoul tiipe with the privilege of twining stock.

With every foot of land owned or held by Bnmo person, much better would it bo for the majority of the present settlers, unless the few who may bo in a position to purchase one of the sub-divided pastoral leases ; I that the lands should bo still held as they are, for it is sure that a runhohler will ob- | joet to a poor man running a few head of cnttle on their runs. In this respect many of them deserve great credit for their liberality, and in many cases they have been greatly imposed upon. But cases of hardship do arise. Such instances aro rare, but it shows wbat can bo done now or what may be done hereafter if every foot of tho lands aro held on nr occupied in I he country and if tho sub-division of the runs is to beat all accomplished tho smallest areas will be those contingent to the settled lands,and hence for the poor settler a far worse state of affairs as regards running stock inns- bo the result. Whatever other similarity of views the candidates for the Dunstan dis trict may hold on this particular question and it is a question of no small moment they are diametrically opposed, and electors have now to decide wh'oh side they wish to see supported—agricultural settleis and would-be settlers at least those in a position to become small runholders, have now to decide whether they prefer a right to run a hoof outside their fences or not. Miners and othe>- residents are called to decide whether they prefer a right to graze their hoise and cow at tho mercy of the lar.-e or small pastoral holder of the land around them, who may or may not grant the priviledge. Tho question at issue is certainly not entirely in the hands of the two men before you, but their is uo uncertainty aboutJ the opposite ways their energies will be devoted. The rabbit pest on which Mr Fraser bases bis main objection presents no serious obstacle at the present day. On such lands are required for hundreds and whereon large cattle and not sheep will be depastured, when dogs can be used at all times and seasons in their destruction, before rabbits get so numerous as to become an out-of the way nuisance, men will be found who will be glad to keep them it check for what they can make out of them. The disposal or purchase of rab-bit-skins is not now a squatting monopoly. There is a market for them anywhere.— One word on railways—Mr Fraser said, being a squatter, it was said he would be opposed to railways. Such was not the case. Years ago lie advocated, he sail, the Tapauui line, which was now proving a great boon to the settlers there ; and was always a supporter of the Otago Central He believed if Mr Pyke had been more moderate in his desires about this railway, he would have succeeded bettor. But hmv in all fairness stands this matter? The Tapauui railway iie (Mr Fraser) may at one time have supported, but tie present Ministry and party under whose banner ha seeks election, tried their best to unseat ami censure Mr Macandrew for letting the contract of that railway which is now proving such benefit. Turn to Mr Macamlrew’a scheme for bringing up the Central Bailway and see how far the men he supports were justified in throwing aside that scheme, when they could propose and was only stopped by the opposition party from purchasing and paying £400,000 for private railways, an amount nearly equal to the whole of the cash capital required by Mr Macandrew s plan to comple-.e the Central Railway. Beating about the bush and throw dust into the eyes of the electors will not disguise that the straight way to tell it is that tho wires have been pulled ' and pulled successfully to keep back the , Central Railway until the question of the runs were settled. That done, it may go a head.—l am, etc., ELECTOR.