THE HOMESTEAD QUESTION.

Evening Star, Issue 6726, 7 October 1885, Page 2

THE HOMESTEAD QUESTION.

The following letter has been received by the Land Board, and will be considered at their adjourned meeting to-morrow:—* Macandvew Bay, 3rd October, 1885. To the Members of the Otago Waste Land Board. Gentlemen.—l trust you will pardon the liberty of my addressing you most respectfully on a subject that most deeply concerns the public interest—one in respect to which energetic action on your part may produco results for good of the very highest character. I allude to the homestead clauses in the Land Act recently passed. Those clauses, as passed by the House of Representatives, contain no restr'c;ion as to the extent of land to bo dealt with. Unfortunately, however, in order to meet the views of the other branch of the Legislature, it was necessary to limit the operation of the clauses to 3,000 acres in any one year within each land district. To that extent it now rests very much with the respective land boards how far the homestead clauses may prove a success or otherwise. There can, I think, be little doubt that had those regulations been in force with us in the past as they have been in Auckland, there would have been a vastly greater number of agricultural holdings in Otago than there are, and the bulk of those would in all probability have been unencumbered by mortgage liabilities. I may say that my views as to the homestead system have been strengthened by a conversation the other day with Mr F. D. Rich, than whom, from liis official coni'cctiun with the early working of the system in the Province of Auckland, no man in New Zealand is in a position to give a more sound opinion on the subject. my sbjecji in addressing you is chiefly to express a hopo that suits-hip land to the authorised extent may be speedily set aside for application • and settlement in terms of th« bbmesteaii clauses; and that the land may be of fair and good quality, and such as shall ensuro the whole being taken up before nest session, in which case it is to be hoped that Parliamont nwy be induced to remxvj the restii Fionas to extent of land that may be dealt with. Depend upon it that if population of the right sori j~to bo attracted to our shores, aud at the same'tlme who are in the Colony now may be'enabled,to oi.iain for themselves and families a less precahous •flfc&Mii; pf subsistence than they at present' passesKy'this van hot bfl bptfcer than by bringing' every aci'e of Crown lands Vffyi*}. }'&s} °? the homestead regulations. Gentlemen, ifcmay perhaps seem an un warrant table pbtrusion thus to address you. I venture to hope, Uowoyer, jhat my anxiety to see tins country beneficijiliy occupied by men and women, and my Parliamentary connection wijtij Otago, may bo deemed a sufficient have etc., J. Maoandbew