Land Settlement at Tolago Bay.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 154, 11 July 1901, Page 4

Land Settlement at Tolago Bay.

(To the Editor of the Times.)

Sm, —At a public meeting hold at Tola go Bay a few weeks ago some references were made to acquiring land in the neighborhood for close settlement. A largelysigned petition with the same object lias been sent to Wellington. As the matter is of very great importance to this district, and with the object of keeping the agitation going, will you allow me some space to ventilate the subject through the medium of your columns'? If the inhabitants of Tolago wish their township to grow and prosper, instead of remaining poor and stagnant; if they want their district to support a comparatively largo population, and thus widen the opportunities of everyone in the neighborhood, now is the time to agitate. The lease of some thousands, of acres within a few miles of the township will soon expire, most of it, as Mr Macfarlane stated, eminently suited for dairying; but if the authorities are not stirred up the probabilities are that under the Maori Lands Administration Act (1900) the land will be once more acquired in large blocks. In that case Tolago Bay may again look forward to a renewed period of stagnation. All reasonable people now admit that to rise land—which is capable of supporting people on small areas — for purely pastoral purposes in large holdings is, next to leaving the land absolutely idle, about the worst use such land can be put to. At the mooting referred to above Mr Macfarlane stated that the time was not ripe for close settlement at Tolago Bay until the capitalist had prepared the way, quite ignoring the fact that thousands of pounds have been spent by capitalists upon the laud in question, and 90 years have gone by in the process. May 1 ask how long at the present rate of progress it will take the capitalist to prepare the way ■> Will another i!0 years suffice, or even 130 ? I trow not. Do small settlors always have to wait upon the heels of capital Did the eapit- alist prepare the way in Taranaki, or in the Seventy Mile Bush ? On the other hand, he prepared the way in Hawke’s Bay, and in parts of Canterbury, and is still, after dO years’ occupation, preparing it, and likely to do so for some time longer.

Mr Macfarlane also stated that if the land was acquired by the Government the probabilities arc that very few, if any, of the sections would fall to the inhabitants of Tolago. In the interests of the district, and the people as a whole, what docs it matter to whom the sections fall, so long as the land is settled and worked properly '2 All would benefit by the increased demand for labor, and the improvement in business which would lake place. One more argument why I think those infested should keep the agitation alive, and I have done. The present House hi s about 18 months to run, i nd members are all the world over far won attentive to the wants of their coustituei t during the year or so before an election than the vear after. —I am, etc., A.B.C.