THE Kawhia Settler. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1905. THE LAND QUESTION.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 195, 3 February 1905, Page 2

THE Kawhia Settler. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1905. THE LAND QUESTION.

The appointment of the Royal Commission to enquire into the admistra* ation of the New Zealand land laws has been completed, and we are glad to learn that our fellow-townsman, Mr W. W. M'Qardle, J.P., is one of the elect, and we offer bin) hearty congratulations on ths appointment. it would have been difficult to find a more suitable man than he in the length and breadth of the colony of New Zealand. Mr M'Cardle has been interested in land tenure for the best' part of bis life, and has studied the question from the different points of vantage in a way it is seldom given to one man to do. He was io the days of John Ballance, and evan before that time, an authority, and to a certain extent a guide to those in power, who recognised his sterling ability when dealing with those matters, and Mr Seddon has shown bis acumen in this appointment if in no ocher. Mr M'Cardie, though an advocate of the freehold, recognises that those who desire the leasehold system have many reasons in their favour, but at the same time he evidently sees that lease bold tenure to be an entire success must be general and £ State affair. If it cannot be, it must he then &n optional matter. The present state of the law, more particui arly as it affects this district, requires much thought, and it is a great pity I bat among other matters to be dealt with that the Maori lands and their tenure as it affects the Pakeba population should not be gone into and settled. / s that has been left out the next question should be, what is the fairest tenure for all. A Commissioner has a great deal of responsibility, and it will help him greatly to have the wishes of the people at large to guide him. We know that sentiment enters largely, if not wholly, into the question of land tenure. Oceans of blood have been spilled in nearly all lands in the maintenance of the freehold tenure, and it is bard to convince people that a freehold is of no more stability than a lease in perpetuity. Some time ago the wife of a settler in discussing the L.I.P. that her husband bad acquired finished up by saying something to this effect: “We are quite content and everything is right, but that stupid man of mine never got the right of renewal at the end of the term inserted 1” She felt that even a 999 years lease had that disadvantage. It will be well if the settlers meet and discuss the question, more especially those who have leases, as it is well that the Commissioners should know their desires and aims. Settlers on O.R.P. land should have the right to pay off at any time during’the ton years if they have completed all other conditions. Not only that, but all leaseholders, whether O.R.P. or D.1.P., should receive a rebate of 10 years’ rents to be applied to the payment of interest on loans for the construction of roads and bridges iu their district, The right to let portions uf their holdings should be given to village settlement leaseholders. Unless it suited them and paid their sub tenants these negotiations would not be entered into, and why should they be harassed 'by foolish restrictions such as exist at present ? The success ot the individual make up the progress of the community. All laws which handicap the individual when trying to make an honest living and do not benefit others in the tame endeavour are wrong sad should be remedied or swept away.