LAND SETTLEMENT.

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 150, 11 June 1891, Page 2

LAND SETTLEMENT.

TO THE IvDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir,— The letter of " E.D. " on land settlement has some good points in it. He is quite right in showing that the only true settlement is that which it on one* very own property, and he says that " ifc is not likely that a man can work with the same heart on a place that is to Devalued in 21 years (while means that he pays on his own improvements) as he could do on a place that he knew was to become his own, and his family's hereafter. " That, sir, is the key-note of true settlement. Know that a home is being made for the family and no " winding up in 21 years." But the«idea that that the land could never be mortgaged or conveyed away in any" form would be> found co[ be a mistaken one. That would be the uiiworketh part of the "Inheritance Act." Let* us refer to another Inheritance Act made by an Infallable Lawgiver,' and let us candidly admit to ourselves, that if its provisions had been adhered to the state of society at the pre- | sent' day would be much better. There would be no big estates, and no poor of a second generation, for this second generation would get back the inheritance lost by an 1 unfortunate or reeklesß father. We shall find this " Inheritance' Act in , Leviticus 25th chapter, it was given about 3300 years ago, and .strange to say the people to whom it was given are in the world now — and' soon will be without .homes — and this very land that was allotted out to them 3300 years ago, is ready for their possesion again. I think that would- meet your correspondent's view of possession for his posterity here* after. There was "provision made" in the Ancient Act, for borrowing and lending on the properity, and also on produce. All was to be regulated on a fixed plan, the return of possessions to the original' owners or nearest of kin, at the 50th year, the year of Jubilee. "In the year of this Jubilee ye shall return' unto every man his possession. " , And money could bo borrowed on, the security of the years to come before the Jubilee. •• According to the multidude^of years thou shall increase the price thereof, and according to the Newness of years thou shall diminish the the price thereof'' — but in all. cases the redemptiou of the land was provided for, >hd tho' : freehold retained'- in the family. Have we" improved upon this model ? Add this to your plan, and see how it comes omt. — I am &c, - F.W.W.