LAND COMMISSION

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1489, 24 June 1905, Page 3

LAND COMMISSION

HAPPY STARBOROUGH. i ;(Per Press Association.)! Blenhoim, last night. To-day the Land Commission examined ton witnesses at Seddon, tho township of tha Starborough estate, oil being sottlers. None of them had any serious fault to find with the lease in perpetuity, but foar of revaluation was expressed, and they also expressed a personal preference for the freehold if they could got it on reasonable terms, while two of the witnesses (K. Armstrong and R. Atkinson) thought tho freehold tenure would actually be tho best in the interests of both State and tenantry. No specified complaint against the methods of the Land Board was forthcoming, though several of the witnesses thought tenants should be represented thereon. The grouping principle of the present ballot system was generally condemned, the dissatisfaction in the case of the Flaxbourne estate being quoted. J. Armstrong, a member of the Awatere Road Board, a thought road boards should have a’voice in the construction of roads which wore subsequently thrown on their hands to maintain. A piece of evidence which indicated the prosperity of the Starborough settlers was the statement that they had had no dealings whatever within tho last four years with money-lending agencies, nor. even the Advances to Settlers Office.

The Commission returned to-'night to Blenheim, where evidence will be taken to-morrow.