THE GOLDFIELDS’ SECRETARY ON THE LAND QUESTION.

Evening Star, Issue 3475, 13 April 1874, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS’ SECRETARY ON THE LAND QUESTION.

On Thursday last, Mr Bastings laid the foundation stone of the Naseby Town Hall, and is reported, in addressing those who were present to witness the ceremony, by the ‘ Chronicle’ to have spoken thus on the laud question : Closely connected with this question of immigration is the land question, and I did hope that no politician would have to complain of ttie state of the land laws. I hoped that the •li , wa3 Passed by Mr Donald Reid, with the best intentions, and a number who have nobly fought for the right of settlement by the people—l did hope that the passing of the Otago Waste Lands Act in 1872 would have been sufficient, but there can be no doubt that that Act falls short of the present requirements, especially with regard to setting apart n 0n deferred payments. We have only 30,000 acres to take annually under the Act. It is true we have the Hundred system, which has done good. What is the case now ? Owing to the advancement of the price of wool and Ration property, the squatters can now go to the banks and obtain money at low interest, and buy up the land; and so we find that what was a good system, now means sales of land in 10,000, 15,000, and 20,000 acre blocks. This is most disastrous to the settlement of the land. Goldsmith says well:— " B1 fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, When wealth accumulates, and men decay! Princes and lords may flourish, or may fade— A breath can make them, as a breath has made; But a bold peasantry, their country’s pride, When once destroyed can never be supplied.” I think these words of great potency at the present time at Home, when we find a man like Mr Holloway saying that his fellow-laborers there are working at from 10s to 15s per week We offer facilities superior to that. I think that the policy of the Government will not he to throw open these Hundreds, as we thought of doing, for I am positive that the runholders would buy them up. I consider that the pastoral tenants have done much good to the country. They have invested much money in -works. They too have had their times of hardship—families have been ruined and rendered destitute, ihey have bought their leases, and are fairly entitled to the enjoyment of them. But it would be a ruinous thing if we encouraged a policy of wholesale alienation, th,at would lead to the establishment of a large landed aristocracy, and place the country all in the hands of a few individuals. Such a policy would be disastrous to the Public Works Policy. I should like to see the deferred payment system ex~ tended. The actual price paid for land on deferred payments is only 14s lOd per acre—that is, deducting the interest on ten yearly halfcroum payments. I regret to say the land has not been very freely taken up—that out of the whole block of 19,201 acres only 9,527 has been so far, taken up. The actual state of the land opened and to be opened is as follows. I will read it for the benefit of the Press:

I see your member here. I tell you this, if ever tins is to-be a prosperous district you must nave settlement, and h$ should get your land open on deferred payments. Rigging is only a fa qn end, Men like to think of settling pi some quieter occupation. Don’t think because you have all, as I hear, become squatters that you can do without settlement. As soon a s the runs fall in, the Government’s policy will be to do as at Wakatip— cut up the real pastoral country, and make the land support forty or fifty families in the place of one. An argument against such a policy is advanced, that it would injure a large interest. I say it would improve it. It is well known that sub-division by fencing enables land to carry more stock — two sheep could be carried on-ground wfe only one was before It was stated lately by Sir P. D. Bel! that he. \vwld sell the pastoral land for 10s I v-quW 9?vy that the price of any land is worth more than 10s, and most of it is at present worth L2. I hope the Provincial Council will agree and pass a resolution askmg the General Assembly to raise the price of agricultural land in Otago to L2 an acre. Land will be very cheap at L2 an acre, and this price will prevent the monopoly by the present tenants. I may say that I have been getting mto disgrace at Teviot because I had said that one of the Committee had stated an Tono th m ui ßa T lD f he Government had Sold a 1.000-acre block of land to the runholder (Mr Miller) for LI an acre, and had given the people 1,000 acres of bad laud, The fact was this : they wanted a block of land. We made an offer to the runhplder to sell him 1,000 acres of land that the Chief Surveyor (Mr M‘Kerrow) assures me is most indifferent, if he would give up 2,000 acres of good for settlement without compensation. We had no right to take more !and at leviot this year. Under the 33rd clause i ? Goldfields Act we are allowed to open up land by payment of compensation, on arbitration i but if the blocks opened are not taken up no more can be taken. Consequently we had to make what terms wo could with the runholder. I_ may say it is impossible for men. in public positions to refute all that'is stated, on insufficient knowledge, against them. Oh occasions like the present, by means of the Press, we can try to clear up false impressions.

* Date when opened. Name of District.in which land is opened. Areas Opened. Area taken np. Balance. a. 5 A. A. B. p. A. 18th Feb,, 1373 Toi Tois 5,000 3,599 3 20 1,400 § 20th Jan., 1874 Waipahee 5,000 2,697 1 22 2.303 14th „ ,, Gdenkenich 2,636 2,119 2 21 517 -417th Feb., „ Dart ... 1,483 820 3 26 662 c* 20th ,, ,, Teviot... 2,582 99 3 14 2,482 9th March, „ Tigerhill 2,500 190 0 0 2,310 £ 19,201 9,527 2 33 9,674 c-t-ty 17th Feb., „ Lake Hawea D. 1,500 s. 20th April ,, Rock and Pillar (Hyde) 2,000 5| Mataura River (M'lfabs) 6,000 Macraes (Highlay D.) ... 2;600 a16th Sept. ,1873 Tuapeka West... *2,600 Do *2,400 p 6th April, 1874 Dc +2,000