Untitled

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 369, 17 May 1856, Page 7

To the Editor of the " Ltftteltan Times."

Sik, —As it appears to me from the discussions which are now going on in our public journals on the subject of pre-emptive rights, and from the way this subject is treated at public meetings which have tieen held in some parts of this tint the real question which will have to be decided upon by our Provincial legislators at their next meeting is not properly understood by the public generally, I would beg to submit what seems to me the real question at issue. The facts are simply these. The Government propose a measure continuing to the pre-emptive right-holders under the existing Land Regulations their rights of pre-emption, which is clearly all they sue entitled to. But a party in the Provincial Council consider it would be for the benefit of the Province to extinguish the pre-emptive rights altogether, at the same time, and this I am sure the Government would acknowledge to be just, they assert a claim on ihe part of the pre-emptive right-holders for compensation on their resigning for the benefit of the Province their title to such rights of pre einption. Then, Sir, the actual question at issue would appear to be this:—Whether is it more to the benefit of the Province to continue the preemptive rights indefinitely, or by extinguishing them to throw open the land equally to all purchasers ? Of course, in ths latter case giving due compensation to the present preemptive right holders. Trusting that I have made myself understood, I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, Matter of Fact. Lyttelton, 16th May, 1856.