FREE LAND TENURE ASSOCIATION.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 321, 23 April 1875, Page 3

FREE LAND TENURE ASSOCIATION.

MEETING; AT ALEXANDBA.

A meeting -was held-at the Athenaum, Alexandra, on .Saturday, evening last. The meeting was convened by .Messrs. Coleman and Chappie. Moved by; Mr. J. Coleman,'and seconded by Mr. Simmonds, —" That the ownership of the unsold lands should bo retained by the Government, and that it should bs open to occu-' pation and use by lease only ; and that the owners of land in quantities above a certain number of acres should be required to select from the same a given number of acres—the same to be held free or subject only to a minimum tax ; but all over and above such quan. tity should be subject to a larger tax, the whole of' Which should be determined by the - quantity of land so held, and be levied ;on i fc hi unequal .proportions oh- certain- quantities of such land, so as to represent a cumulative in" crease from-the sum charged onthd first lot' corresponding to the amount to be paid fprthej whole.";) ;Mr. Coleman addressed ,the meeting *fc some.length, and explained the object sought. 1 !' He reviewed the Land "Acts of Tictoria7'-]tfew''South7'"W"ales, and Adelaide, and'pointed put their failures in so far that' the'public estate was nearly or to a great ex-te-'nt'EeTd by speculators, and not in the hands of the'agriculturalist, and' quoted statistics which went to prove that the public estate" of NeW'Zealand' was fast passing into the hands of private individuals, in some instances in large blocks ; and. that, a few years hence, our borrowing 'powers.will be crippled, the borrowed capital expended,*"'and New Zealand .Jeft w.t¥"4 population wholly' out of employ;' and those of them.who would turn their at-tention'-tp agriculture must treat with -private individual's for land, as the Government—having dispos3d',of what is clearly the rights of the people—would not only not have any to sell, but none to giv.e as security .for a loan. He predicted that a stagnation, such as never took place before in -a British Colony, would be the fate-pf-Sfew Zealand, and expressed a hope'that the" .centres of population would bestir themselves, and call meetings at which the land question may be thoroughly ventilated. Mr.-Oolem:m explained that, in conjunction with Mr. Chappie he hid called this meeting, and was pleased to see so many in attendance—the object being to give the matter" a start, and they expected to see it taken up in other places. Mr. jColeman advocated the formation of a Free LandiTemire Association, "and invited everyone to become members. On taking his seat he was loudly applauded. Moved'by Mr. Chappie and seconded by Mr. D. M'Donald,—"That for the above purpose, as -well as for ascertaining the value |of all land leased or sold, and,'in order to de- | termme the amount of rent di' tax to" be paid, ■ it is necessary that the land should be subject/ I to a valuation at certain stated periods -en I time; and, that the revenue derived, frota the I land should all, or a great part thereof, as | may be deemed requisite, be devoted to the ■ improvement of the land, to the plantation of ' forests, to'th'c drainage or irrigation of lands, I and such other public works of utility as may be required ; and that the expenditure of sucli revenue, and the management of such works, i should devolve on a Board of Works, or other b_Qdy, for the purpose of local government in each shire or district; and that it should be granted in proportions suited to the requirements of each shire or district, and be expended in each under the supervision of persons appointed by the Government—to act in unison with the local bodies by reporting on and assisting in the construction and mainteni auce of such works." ■: Carried. Mr. Chappie explained that he appeared there as the conI v'ener of the meeting, in conjunction with Mr. Coleman, and, although the subject under 1 discussion was of such vast importance to New I Zealand, they did not think they were taking too much on themselves in endeavoring to start such" a movement, and expressed a hone that the press would take the mat f er up, and freely express their opinions whether tor or against, and that every place, however small, would follow the,example that night set them. He considered it was the duty of every man to do something for his adopted country, for by so doing he would be doing something for himself at the same time. He condemned the system of selling land in large blocks, or in fact of selling the land at all, and pointed put that, one person holding say the fee simple of 50,000 acres did not contribute ah equal share to the revenue of-the country with the re3t of the population, and attributed.■the difficulties'attending getting land for settlement to the high price of wool. Had wool been a drug in'the market we should h.ave fovtnd our squatting friends making application to the Government to cancel their leases; and give them compensation. He considered that, had. the Government, in 1862,.given anyone who wished'tp eninark in agricultural pursuits 500 acres of-landfree, with a proviso that he should live on it and cultivate it, we would, at this present time have in Otago three.; times the population, and have saved to the Pro"vinceaU the thousands expended in bringing immigrants to our shores; and retained those who/have .made; money here, ahd: hbt driven them, away as we have done; and are doing daily: 'He instanced several Tvho left Ofcago lately'.because they could not get land to settle on. He was of opinion that, by the time the Public Works polity was worked out—which -would nob be. many : years—our borrowing powers would be exhausted, and a large papulation left in the hands of the'Proviiice, with her lands all sold and-an empty Treasury. In fact we : would have a ship, but no rudder. The lands would be increased in value to a considerable extent by the snending of public money ; and who would reap the advantage ? Those who have purchased the land ; and those who have 1 assisted to enhance its value will derive none of its benefits. He spoke of thesspeeial lax'the miners are subject to;-and said " the powerß that be -'.' would- religiously make them-pay"those-taxesraT3"d*tlTa > f"th'ey"wiir certainly require to be paid there is no doubt toihelp,pay the interest-on borrowed capital: ,but at the same time he Called oh every one who had the interest of New Zealand at heart toistand up and say " hold, enough." For the future we must protect ourselves by protecting the, public lands. The resolution was.ciirried by acclamation. .•■■"- A committee was then elected ;to devise'; means to carry out the object. A „vote. of thank's to the chair brought l he, .meeting -to «, close. Before'separating three cheers were given for Messrs. Coleman and Chappie.