The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1929. LAND AGGREGATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1929. LAND AGGREGATION.

Thu serenity of the proceedings of the W estland Land Board lias been disturbed of late regarding the principle of land aggregation. The specific case in point, however, was only a run in a very out ot the way part of the County, and situation appears to have been unduly strained by the Board. On the principle of land aggregation proper there will be general agreement with the desire to prevent it where it is likely to block settlement, and it is to lie hoped that the Board having taken up the matter will pursue it with unabated enthusiasm, and endeavour to have instances reviewed and if possible dealt with. More settlement is highly essential for Westland as a whole, and the Board could serve a very good purpose by taking up the matter of promoling greater settlement either by looking round for suitable areas to throw open, recommending the purchase of suitable freehold, or taking up cases of aggregation and lopping off suitable areas for settlement purposes. That would be of invaluable service to the community and action to that end would he appreciated. Regarding the late case in the Jackson Bay district, we understand the area involved is a large run on the Jackson river, remote from settlement, and only costing a nominal rental per year to hold. There are no homesteads within miles of the area, and this remoteness* from practical utility usage probably accounts for its extremely low annual letting value. The area was part of an estate sold by auction, and purchased in good faith along with freehold land which, however, was not in juxta-position to the run. The Board lias refused to transfer the lease of the run, and as there is not any immediate settlement in the neighbourhood, it will lie fallow, or be used free of cost by the applicants now refused transfer. Settlement will not be assisted by the action of the Board. On the contrary, it would appear that in refusing the application of enterprising settlers who have ventured largely in Hie way of cattle rearing, dairy production and other industrial purposes, the Board nas raised a finger of discouragement. At Hie same time the Board showed some eagerness in granting the same settlers a large run in another mid more remote part of the County, which hut for the enterprise of the applicants referred to. would remain unused. Admittedly the settlers complained of hold or occupy large areas, but they are using them to full advantage, and their production and ventures must ho the mainstay of the district. They have stayed on in the district from boyhood, a;nd their possessions a.ro

such that if they wished to sell, it would he quite impossible to find a buyer at a reasonable price; not because of the sum involved, but because of the isolation and difficulty involved in carrying on settlement in so remote and expensive an output. As pioneers who continue to hold the fort when the bulk of the former population has left, and who continue to show confidence in the possible future of the distri t by venturing on special and even costly adjunctive enterprises, the settlers referred .to seem to merit something more than ordinary consideration in a case where a run oi only nominal rental value is at stake. The title to t

run, in any case, is such that if the land were required for closer settlement it could he resumed under conditions favourably to the Crown, while in the interim the occupiers kept it in order for the Crown.