Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1884. CROWN LANDS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 136, 8 May 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1884. CROWN LANDS.

* The Woodville correspondent of the Napier Telegraph writes m a very practical manner m reference to the system of fixing high prices on Crown Lands, and his remarks are worthy of perusal by the public m these districts, and should be laid to heart by those responsible for the administration of the affairs of the Crown Lands Department. He observes : — There has been a considerable outcry against the prices which are set upon the Crown lands recently sold, and it is said that legal advice has been obtained from a leading firm of solicitors m Napier which considers that the action of the Waste Lands Board has been illegal, and that the late sales can be upset. We have men up here, too, who would upset the sale m a minute if it is possible to do so. The fact is there are many would-be settlers of the most desirable sort men of small capital, who have lately visited Woodville with a view to settling on Crown lands, and have been quite unable to do so, partly

because the sections were so small, and partly because of the high prices reserved. We would pass over the prices if we could only get the land m suitable blocks. Who can possibly make a living off 40 or 50 acres of land ? No one, and offering the land m these small lets only encourages a class of settlement that we have plenty of already — men of no means whatever. If a whole district is to be peopled with men who depend entirely on their labour for their support, and for the money wherewith to pay the instalments on their land, who is to supply the work? and where is the money, to come from ? The land need only be offered m 300-acre sections to be taken up, and the difficulty got over, for there is some prospect of a man of small means settling on 300 acres, whereas there is not the remotest chance of his taking up one of 40 or 50 acres. It is surely then the duty of a Government to take such a beneficial step as this m lieu of the present mode of sub-dividing the land into infinitessimal proportionsMoreover, if these principles require proof, that proof is forthcoming, for if anyone takes the trouble to enquire into the matter they will find that there is a general tendency for several small holdings to become the property of one man, even if sold m the first instance to separate selectors. We have instances of this at the very last sale, we see examples of it almost every day m connection with land originally held by separate holders, and yet, m the face of it, we still see land cut up into the most ridiculous little corners and areas, and no notice taken of the demand. It is to be hoped that our views may be acknowledged correct, and that the Waste Lands Board may work for the future m unison with a very large number of interested people, the natural result ot which must undoubtedly be the settlement of land speedily with the most desirable class of settlers.