Correspondence.
To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. I must deprecate the tone of one or two articles that have lately appeared ;in the ' Lyttelton Times,' on the question of pre-emptive rights, as misrepresenting the opinions of the squatters and tending undeservedly to raise'ft class feeling against them. Asa squatter myself, and one well acquainted with their opinions, I can state that they are opposed to any obstruction being thrown in the way of the sale of land for profitable occupation by the agriculturist. All that the squatters want is security for improvements made on Government property. Perhaps many are not aware that in the event of his homestead being bought over a runholder, he can claim no compensation for buildings or other, improvements. The parody after Longfellow, in last Saturday's ' Times,' may be very clever and funny, but in argument is quite incorrect; It must be borne in mind that there is a very wide difference between. Association's pre-emptive rights and preemptive rights hold in virtue of runs. In one case they arc put down as a mere speculation, and in the other as a protection in improving public property. So far from the exception made in favour of runholders pre-emptive rHits being the great boon to them you wish
• to make out, it is not of. the slightest value to them as a body except as a mere security in making improvements which could be equally well and as satisfactorily secured to them by a compensation clause. Some half-dozen or so at the most in the neighbourhood of the towns, and some of them not bona fide squatters, may be benefitted by the exception, but the homessteads of the great majority of the runholders are situated at such a distance from the towns, and in many cases on land so unfitted for agriculture that, during the present lease at least, no person would be tempted to buy except for. the value of the improvements or as as a means of annoyance. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, . SQUATTER.
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Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 554, 24 February 1858, Page 5
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340Correspondence. Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 554, 24 February 1858, Page 5
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