THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENT SYSTEM.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 4 October 1901, Page 3

THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENT SYSTEM.

(OUE PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER.)

Wellington; This Pay. Somb serioiis complaints regarding the system of land settlement at present in force are contained in a petition from members of the Bay of Islands presented to the House by Mr Hous'on yesterday. The petitioners’ point out that the system upon which Crown lands are thrown open to selection is eminently unsatisfactory. That in very many cases the values placed upon the various section are far too high. To such an extent, indeed, as to heavily handicap selectors taking up sections. That much of the land thrown for selection is second-class land, while the price placed upon it, is the price of first-clase land. That, moreover, the valuations of such sections are exceedly uneven. In many cases sections of the same quality in the same block and With equal facilities of access being offered at different prices per acre. That many of the sections thrown open for selection are of insufficient area to permit of their affording a livelihood to intending settlers and that in consequence of these facts the settlement of the country is greatly retarded. They, therefore, pray the House to set up a Royal Commission to make enquiry into the present system fixing prices of sections of Crown lands open to selecting.