The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, June 27, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1010, 27 June 1911, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, June 27, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The Mayor struck a popular note, judging by the applause that greeted the statement —during his remarks at the foundation stone ceremony last Thursday—that the Council intended to seriously consider running its own picture shows. From what information we can gather on the subject, municipal picture shows are revenue-producers. That such is the case so far as private enterprise is concerned is too wellknown to need comment. Already the Council have received applications for the use of the hall over a lengthy period from private companies for picture purposes. Unless there is profit in the picture business, such people would not touch it. Therefore, the Council is moving in the right direction in obtaining full details as to cost, etc. In respect to leasing the hall for any period, it may lead to complications with theatrical companies, which may cutFoxton out of their itinerary. The pictures, it municipalised, could fit in to fall up gaps when the hall is not otherwise engaged. There are many important details to consider before the Council makes a definite pronouncement on the subject, but it is almost a certainty that Foxton will have its municipal picture entertainments.

The need for local closer settlement has often been referred to in these columns, and it is 110 exaggeration to say that within a radius of eight miles of the borough at least 100 profitable farms could be worked. The land is not producing a fraction of what it could were it subdivided and

settled by bona fide small farmers. What suchsettlement would meau, even to the industrial life of the town, must be clearly apparent to the most casual observer. Instead of close settlement, however, aggregation is taking place. We are not blaming the men who are adding acre to acre simply for grazing purposes, but we do blame prominent townspeople for the apathy and indifference ‘they display in the matter. Contrast Levin’s enterprising spirit in regard to closer settlement with our own shameful carelessness. Have we grown too prosperous ? Is it that we live and move and have our being absolutely in the hemp industry ? If flax is up we are up, if flax is down our spirits and our turnover diminishes. Foxton iu the past has relied almost wholly upon this great industry—long may it flourish. But we have relied upon it to the exclusion of other important branches of industry. If the land were closely settled, as it should be in the vicinity, we would not feel so acutely the depression in the hemp market—the dairy herds, creameries, butter and cheese factories would keep us on an even keel, Closer settlement has been rung iu our ears by outsiders and by our Parliamentary representative until the subject has become a mere platitude. Only the other da}’ a Wellington citizen informed us ce had tasted no finer flavoured apples than those grown at Foxton —■“ all you want is shelter ; you have a port at your back door, and a market withiu a stone’s throw for all you can produce — what’s wrong with you ?” There is room for dairy herds, fruit and vegetables —the earth cries out for tillage, but the land must first be subdivided. Thousands of people are in want of small farms throughout the Dominion, and Foxton district should attract some of them. Increased population means increased prosperity to any community. Are we going to move iu the matter ? A number of citizens discussed the subject of closer settlement with the member for the district the other day. Mr Newman said when he delivered his first political address here he advocated closer settlement. The opening for closer settlement was here, but the people themselves must assist him to bring it about. A petition, through him, should have been presented to the Government long ago, but we have lacked the man with sufficient enterprise to set the thing in motion. We are pleased to state, however, that a move is being made iu the direction indicated,and we should like to see a petition circulated and signed by every resident iu the town asking the Government to give immediate attention to this district for the purpose of closer settlement.

Our Mastertou contemporary, the Age, recently made a suggestion for dually and effectively dealing with native lands which deserves consideration. Broadly, the proposal was that the Government should take over the whole of the native lands by way ot lease from the native owners, and reserve the right to sub lease in suitable areas with option to purchase. This is somewhat on the lines ot the Government’s abandoned proposal to take a pakeha’s land and sublet to settlers, who would ultimately pay the owner ; but there is a considerable difference between this and the Age’s suggestion. The native lands referred to are to a great extent waste lauds doing no good to anyone ; even the natives themselves. It would take a large sum of borrowed money to purchase these lands outright, but by the method proposed they would at once provide the Maori owners with an income, and finally with the money value ot them. Years ago some such scheme as this was used with good results. Blocks of laud were purchased from the Maoris without the money required for them being paid over. The interest on the price only was paid until the Government saw its way to pay the principal. Under the Age’s scheme the Government would never have to provide the principal, nor, as the land taken was sublet, the interest. Both would be paid by the settlers upon the laud. The Government’s responsibility would be confined to the administration, and the Native Department would become an active and truly useful and practical part of the State’s machinery. The natives themselves should warmly welcome the plan, as by it their idle lands would be ot immediate value to them, producing an income to assist in their maintenance. The impetus to settlement would be a substantial one. The details of the scheme would need careful working out, but it has a great deal to commend it, and it is worthy of the most earnest consideration of the Government.