The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1877.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 42, 14 March 1877, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1877.

The difference manifested between the opinions- of Messrs Saxson and H ALCOMBEattlie late County Council respecting the relative merits of two systems of rating is the difference that prevails generally on this subject. The former gentleman expressed the views that the circumstances of a growing population are every day more forcibly urging upon the public mind ; while Mr Halcombe took upon himself the representation of an interest which, at any rate m its present dimensions and importance, seems marked out for extinction. Argued abstractedly the system of rating by valuation may hold its ground against the acreage system, but applied to the exigencies of this country it involves a permanent injustice. There is m all new countries an inevitable tendency on the part of capitalists to acquire lai'ge tracts of landed property, since, while population is m the minimum this can be done cheaply. The speculator is content to let his money lie idle so invested, with the full assurance that m course of time he will be well rewarded for his patience. In this way many handsome fortunes have been realised m the colonies, for when small settlers have established themselves m the vicinity of any large holding the value of such holding is materially enhanced, although the proprietor may not have expended a single sixpence m the way of improvement. But the question arises, m what relation does the large laud proprietor who does not improve, or only partially improves his la-nd, stand towards the small farmer, who works from " early morn to dewey eve" upon his little plot. Assuredly he is not the one who confers but the one who receives the benefit. He himself but clogs the wheels of progress and injures the community by his tenure ; tne State has nothing to thank him for, since m no degree if the measure of local prosperity existing to be attributed to him. The system of allowing large tracts of land to remain unproductive m private hands is indeed only tolerable m the early days of colonisation, and now that population is increasing rapidly and the value of puch land is increacing by virtue of. contiguous

settlement and facility of communication, it should be one of the chief aims of legislation to make it productive. This can only be done by making its tenure an expense to the owner. A tax, then, that affects the value of improvements rather t! an the extent of territory is the ivverse of what is required. In this new country it is uot to our interest to lay a foundation upon which a superstructure of feudalism may be based m the far future, nor is it politic to establish on any considerable scale a system of tenant farming,but what is required is that all the country, save state reserves, should be made available for division into freehold bona jide settlements, and that a premium should be placed upon industry and independence. The time has now come when an effort should be made to procure an equitable system of rating — one that will further the general rather than the sectional interest. A judicious acreage system will at once bring the pressure to bear on the right shoulders and force a quantity of land into the market that is now kept back m furtherance of private interests. We are well aware that before a change of this kind can be effected a hard battle will have to be fought with that powerful section of the community whose interests would be prejudicially affected by the measure, but fought it must be, and the sooner the better for the general weal. The arguments that may be adduced on the other side of the question are m themselves forcible enough, but admit of merely an ephemeral application. The evils likely to accrue from the regime proposed will not be of longer duration than the temporary inconveniences resulting from any political reform, whereas the benefits will be of a decided and enduring character.