Special Settlement Associations.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 52, 30 July 1885, Page 2

Special Settlement Associations.

[Extract from Manawatu Standard, March 11th, 1885/1 ;, ': , ; . : V>; ; 5 . ? When the deputation from the Mangahao Special Settlement interviewed Mr Ballance (writes a Wellington paper), he stated that the association might rely upon getting the land at about 20s an acre, The Waste Lands ■ Board would have the valuing- of the lands, but if they placed any fictitious value thereon to the. detriment ot/ settlers, he: should set it: aside, and appoint fre3h valuators. Mr Ballaric&atated that at a recent interview^ which he had had with certain, members of the Waste .Bands Board, Mr -Bunny; had presented a number of names picked out from the list of members of the association, and asserted they were nothing but speculators, 1 desirous of picking out the eyes of the Crown lands for speculative purposes. He had replied to Mr Bunny that he was very well pleased with the class of men who had applied, and he hoped such men would spring up and '• p ; ck out: the eyes " , of the waste lands, that settlement might be made. Mr S. E. Capper asked if selectors would be allowed to live on their town sections, provided they carried out the improvements on their suburban sections, m accordance with , the regulations. Mr Ballance replied ; that he coulfl not' even tacitly agree that it would be allowed, but the Government would, make no factious opposition to the' requirements of the selectors, provided*the. improvements, were properly carried out as it was their earnest" desire to see the waste lands of the Crown occupied by }bona fide settlers. It is very satisfactory to note that the Minister is determined riot to be^coerced into any action which : would embarass the Associations by the representations of Mr Bunny, or any other small-minded member of the Waste Lands Board. Mr Bunny may have been, and no doubt was, a power m himself, m the days of provincialism, when the late Superintendent, D c Featherston, was too much a pliant instrument m his hands. Mr Bunny of to-day jis not the Mr Bunny of then by a very long way, and we trust nevbrwill again be able to usurp the same autocratic power m hiinselr, or exert a similar ascendancy over! those*' ab«ye him. He may fume and boil over about the iniquity of these' Special i Settlement associations, as judged from his doubtless Very high standard of political morality, economy, and all that; but we can assure him he will not be allowed to stand m the way of the scheme being developed at any rate to a stage to give it a fair trial. Mr Bunny may place any absurd valuation on the land he likes, say £4 or £5 per acre, and may' moralise to his heart's content upon the awful sin and shame of the Associations •• picking out the eyes of the country," to use his favourite expression ;jbu.t we feel assured that all his opposition will weigh butlittle with the Minister or the Cabinet. These Associations promise to do more to settle the land than any previous scheme, and wo belieye most successful results will bo achieved. Wo. greatly misjudge Mr Balhmce if he will permit any inter-' ferehce of the kind Mr Bnnny evidently cnitemplates with; a scheme m the inan.tjuration of which, since .ho ioined the Ministry, he has Bhowna' zoat tiidt L is worthy of all praise, and which the colonists oPtheso districts thoroughly recognize and appreciate rd 4 will not readily forget,