The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2116, 26 June 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1907.

GAMBLING IN LAND. Practically all Gisborne and half Napier were interested in the ballot tor the Waimata section, which was withdrawn yesterday, and it was freely circulated that the fortunate person who was lucky enough to draw the winning marble would nave little difficulty in obtaining. £IOOO for Ins interest. Does not this point' to the present unsatisfactory system used m the disposal of Crown lands which are open to selection, and does it not tend to encourage tlie speculator and discourage the bona fide settler in search of a homestead? Bankers, lawyers, merchants, agents and clerks all join in the scramble, and if tlie names of many of the applicants are reviewed the suspicion must arise as to the improbability of their desire to go on the land. If there is so much goodwill in the section, surely it belongs to the Crown, and neither to genuine settlers or speculators. is probable that in this as m luauy other cases the value is unduly inflated owing to competition, and that later the successful applicant may find that he lias not such a bargain as he anticipates. But our object and desire is that genuine settlers should have the opportunity to acquire a farm, and to this end our land laws could safely be made more stringent in this respect). If successful applicants were compelled to reside upon the property for at least six months before they could obtain a transfer it would probably meet the case. To abolish the present twelve months exemption from residence would be impracticable and be a hardship to many genuine settlers, but to compel six months residence would draft oft all those who did not intend to make a home of their property. No one can blame applicants for trying to make money thus" easily, but we must blame the land laws which permit such a state of affairs to exist. It is interesting to note that as far as we can learn there has not been one application under the Lease in Perpetuity tenure, which is a pretty fair indication of the views of the settlers upon the leasehold system without the right of purchase, and we think the same would apply with greater force to Mr. McNairs Renewable Lease System, for iff is obvious that if applicants hesitate to take up land under the 999 years’ lease it is not likely that a 66 years’ tenure with right of renewal at a fresh valuation will appeal to them. HARBOR BOARD RATING. The contention of the Tolaga Bay settlers and the residents of Waiapu County that they should be exempt from rating under any proposal for construction of an outer harbor, must appeal to fair-minded people outside of those districts, as not being without reason. Although the ratepayers of these two districts do certainly export their mutton and beef through the Gisborne harbor at the present time the day ife close at hand when a freezing works will be established up the Coast and therefore an outer harbor would be a luxury which they would be prepared to do without in the meantime. Tliejr main export, wool, is shipped from the various bays along the Coast and none of it finds its way through Gisborne. Although some of tlie imports for the Coast are first landed here the bulk certainly goes direct, so that it is difficult to see what justification the HarborBoard will have to maintain the present rate of 5-32nds of a penny, or indeed in the near future to levy any rate aff all upon either the Waiapu County or Tolaga riding. This of course means a loss of revenue of some £llBO but with the large increases in other directions this could be afforded. Among the most remarkable increases will bo that of the rents derivable from the 'Tauwhareparae endowment, the leases of which expire in four years. The present rents received by the Board amount to £698 per annum, while it is safe to compute the future revenue to be derived from this source when the property is re-let will not be far short of £SOOO per year. Even this might be greatly inflated under some conceivable circumstances as the wording of the leases is particular. It would almost seem fihat outgoing tenants are only entitled to compensation from incoming tenants to an amount not exceeding 10s per acre, and if this is so the present value of the Board’s interest in' the property will be much increased. We think that on a careful examination of the present and jirospective revenue of the Board from the above and other sources, it will be found economically practicable for Poverty Bay to embark upon the Outer Harbor scheme, but it is very desirable that a carefully-prepared statement of the financial position should be placed before the rate]layers for consideration in the near future and we are pleased that the Board are taking steps to this end.