STATE OWNERSHIP OF ALL LANDS

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 151, 10 June 1893, Page 2

STATE OWNERSHIP OF ALL LANDS

TO THE EDITOR OP THK STAR. Sijb,— lt seems somewhat of folly, saj waste of time, to argue oa such • ques tion ; but at the same time, the idea it gaining ground with the unthinkine, and nn unscrupulous ministry are leaning as far as they dare in that direction, in order to awake, the cpvetonsness. and train the popularity, of a considerable portion of the community, who are expected to keep tbeir " Libeml " rulers in place and in power. It ia contended by some that all the financial trouble of the colony would be at an end were the State possessed of all lands, and derifing rent therefrom. It ia certainly a very pretty picture — but it is ridiculous. Not only would (he State hare some dif« fieulty in acquiring the land, but it would be still more difficult to change human nature, m ewn the handful of people resident in this colony. Fart ot (he argument is perfectly good and fairNo doubt this GoTerament, or any Goternment. would be pleased to be Able to administer double, or treble, the ordinary revenue of the country ; and I would be using an argument quit? as good, were I to express a wish for £10,000 per annum, and assert tbat the possession of that income would be . of considerable benefit to myself and family. Can anyone dispute it ? But you ennnnt cat your bun and have it too. In the first place. the State sold these lands, and has issued Crown grants to the owners thereof; and there if a strong feeling on the part of the grantees* that they should be al< lowed to keep what they hare paid for, and which the State by is grant guarantees to protect and preserre for the owners. It is said " an Englishman's house is his castle/ and the holders of freeholds in this colon 3* will not be dispossessed of their lands, notwithstanding the desire. of the " Liberals " to annex those most desirable properties. It will never do! We oannot permit one individual — or any section of the community— to say that a certain property must be handed over, simply because some would-be selectors desire to make their homes there. The owners must be willing to sell, otherwise the resumption of freehold lands by the State would result in disanter, and the attempt to do so would be disastrous to the administration unwise enough to attempt' such vandalism. Then again : What prospect is there of persons not having some capital to start with, being sble to pay even 4 per cent on the value of first-class improved land. Jf any in* experienced person took up such land it would mean certain failure. How would the Government feel if they had 56,000 such " settlers " on their hands, or even a tenth part of tbat number 9 It strikes me very forcibly that the tenants would be the masters, and would be able to dictate terms to the Government of the day. There is no doubt in my. mind that settling the country with an undue proportion | tion of leaseholders is simply paring the way for bribery and corruption in the future. [More anon.] I am, <fee, Fbibtbaobji.

large and small centres of population in the colony, and as this town is possessed of a vonsidrrable amount of rocal and dramatic talent, I see no earthly reason why they, should not also prove successful here. I^wonld suggest Wednesday j evrnings as ,<bting the most suitable, for I feel sure many of Ihe shop«assi*t« ants, and others, who now wind up their ' balf-balidty by sadly tramping through the slush in this "sombre city of gloom," would gladly avail themselves of the opportunity to visit a good entertainment at a small charge, were such an entertainment provided. Not only would these entertainment s do much towards trie town during the long winter nights, but they would be Ihe means of render* ing pecuniary assistaneeiio 6?eM&ving objects. Seeing that our Fire Brigade is aytl^Ereafnt mom^nlaaSOtllig-P 6^ of fund sTu won fd\p«^a~^rac*f ttl,Trtra at the same time a just act.- to hand over the proceeds of the first sixpenny concert to that highly deserving institution. I am certain the public would willingly and liberaljy sppport,Bueh' 9 elnidableiobject. Apologising loir &e*pa*sMfg%n ytfuV limited siace, and trusting to see the six* penny concerts shortly established in Feilding, » - lam, e|e, ' ' ■ ' JoHi^^'^O DAT*.