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New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 766, 17 August 1853, Page 3

To the Editor of the New-Zealander. Sir, —As members of the Provincial Council will not have an early, if any opportunity of debating 1 the proper principles for developing the new cheap land regulations—or, in other words—administering the waste lands of the crown, 1 now trouble you with the enclosed letter addressed to Sir George Grey; which, if you should think well, I would wish that you should publish in order that the public fenerally, as well as our councillors for the Ippcr Assembly, may consider the arguments therein used, with a view to a full knowledge cf the intricacies which the disposal of the waste lands will involve in connection with a pure system of immigration, and carefulness towards the native population. As I am desirous to elicit public opinion on all these points, I forbear making any comment beyond what are already contained in the letter itself. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, AYm. Powditch. To His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.8., Govemor-in-Chief, &c., &c., &c. Auckland, August sth, 1853. Excellent Sir, —The very great boon of cheap land granted by your Excellency, 4th March last, and your subsequent promise to make the same available to settlers of small capital, being calculated to fix many persons in the desire to establish themselves in this colony, as one of the most suitable for the realization and quiet enjoyment of a permanent property under peaceful, moral, and social advantages —(the want whereof has led many to seek them in distant and unoccupied colonies) —is undoubtedly a measure of the greatest political importance ; not only to the people themselves, but also to the right and safe progress of the colony for many future years, at which time only will its true benefit be appreciated ; and as it embraces in its consequences the great subject of immigration in the most important features (religious, social, and political) it calls for the greatest care in establishing rules for its safe and practical developemont. The great variety of interests in the question of immigration are too often confined to mere personal benefit, local advantage, or even temporary reliefs ; which, in their result upon the position of the country, or body of the people, are too often detrimental to that state of society which the progress of religion and knowledge are developing, as the real good of the political prosperity, and the more lasting advancement of the interests of the human family. It is with such impressions that I view the primary location of new lands, ns to the principle upon which the consequences of immigration should be modified : and, as we mostly find difficulties, distress, and want—fertile sources of discontent—often choking the voice of reason, it is of main consequence that in establishing inodes of location, we render the means not merely attractive, but as secure against these evils as events will permit. And thus attract to our colony persons of such character as will, by their own deportment, preserve a favourable comparison, and exhibit to their future offspring a right example of such religious and social duties, as are calculated to increase the happiness and prosperity of the country. The encouragement of the introduction of wealth, as a matter of furthering the occupancy of the land, is, in my mind, a very secondary requisite ; because, if carried out to any great extent, cither from the nature of primary occupancy, or from its own inadequacy to supply the foundation of its developement in necessary labour, it becomes of very secondary benefit, and sometimes uselessly burdensome to the country it is intended to advance.

As labour may, and will progress with little capital, but no great capital can progress without labour,itwouldappearthat in the primary occupation of land, labour is the essential requisite ; capital the secondary; and thence labour is the best element in the primary occupancy ; and greater capital most couducively employed in developing the secondary sources of occupation, by the application of art and science towards exhibiting the means of wealth concealed in the raw material of the mineral and natural productions. I have digressed from what may appear as the simple and direct object of my letter; but, I have thought it necessary, before stating my sentiments on the mode of effectually working the cheap land regulation in detail, to exhibit the grounds on which I take a view differing from many others ; —that the introduction of capital only towards acquiring merely primary possession, is, in my opinion, destructive to the boon of a reduced and modified price. And more especially do I feel called upon to state my sentiments, from the fact of having before addressed your Excellency on the subject of opening up this country to occupancy, in the more extended sense of grazing, which, in its application would embrace large tracts ; but which, it not prudently controlled, would lock up these lands to a few capitalists, to the detriment of the middle class, for agricultural reduction; and also of the progressive improvement of the operative labourer ; which latter class being in conjunction with the soil, the real funded capital of the country, ought, by every fair, practicable means, to be placed iu a position to be moderately secured from the consequences of the premature over-riding of introductory capital.

With a view apparently to this latter proposition, your Excellency has answered in a favourable manner, the application of the “ Auckland Land Association,” declaring you would arrange for blocks of land to be available to their purposes, But as there are others, who may not at all times be able from circumstances or local obligations, to derive advantage from such a scheme; and as the whole body of the people should in a general sense, be open to the advantage ; and more especially be secured from abuse of the privilege you have already bestowed ; I shall proceed to lay before your Excellency, some proposals for the further developemcnt of your Excellency’s scheme, which I consider likely to be beneficial for the protection of the lands ; the benefit of minor occupants and the preservation of the full advantages in future. Coming in the first instance to general principles, and the probability of extensive blocks being required for feeding purposes, I should tecommend that for such no absolute grant should be given ; but in lieu thereof, conditional leases say from sto 7 years. The first period merely a license fee ; second and after periods to be rented at ss. per 100 acres, or to highest bidder if more than one applicant. Conditions —vacation at six months notice if required for agricultural pur--1 oses, or for general government sales. The right of priority of purchase of homestead, and of all lands, actually reduced by culture, to lie taken in a general block, or in blocks rot less than 00 acres, and not being destructive of intermediate blocks of similar size available for future tenure.

Thai no absolute grant should be given for blocks over G4O acres; and no second grant until the prior purchase has been reduced by r three-fourths culture, or correspondent outlay in improvements. Priority of purchase to first applicant at upset price allowed on prompt payment of primary grant not being less than 80 acres, within 20 miles, IGO acres within that to 40 miles, 320 acres beyond these distances from principal town or harbour of shipment. License of occupation to he issued as substitute for a grant for 3 years on payment of one-half by recently arrived immigrants, subject to forfeiture of the unpaid half of the original block on nonfulfilment of the conditions of purchase. For the locations of smaller settlers, operatives or labourers. Premising that such lands will undoubtedly’ be at a higher upset value in consequence of their special locality to the vicinity of Towns, Villages, or Ports. One block be selected not exceeding 1000 acres being limited bv Executive authority according to the extent of available country. ■ This block to be divided into 40 acre farms, each one farm to be granted to any one individual on pay’ment of 25 per cent, and a credit of 3 years for remainder, subject to total forfeiture together with any improvements on failure of payment, on which such lot should be sold only’ at public Auction. No second lot allowed to same applicant until paid in full for first purchase and under actual occupancy and tillage of three-fourths. Lots for Villages, to have a double frontage quantity in the general block, or blocks, in proportion to the size of the village (presuming that one-half of the villagers locate) each villager to have the reserved claim to 20 acres. Each 20 acre lot to be divided into 2 frontages of 5 acres each and 10 acres back (say’, blocks of’ 240 acres each block, one two or more). Rule, —Each villager entitled to occupancy on payment of 20 per cent, on the upset price, and credit for the remainder for 3 years subject to forfeiture on nonpayment. No additional lot allowed until prior lot is reduced by culture, to be located in 2 frontage lots to 1 back lot.

The general block not occupied to be used as a reserved common for Village stock. By the foregoing plan, the small settler will during his servitude as a village labourer be certain of securing to himself a small farm, suffeient to place his family above want, and even in case of failure the country’ will be secured by payment of a reasonable compensation for the use of the land.

s Should the system of Pensioner villages be continued, they would be placed on the same footing, with this difference, that the premium may be taken as now from his pension money and’ the credit extended to the final period of his fencible service. Tims whether a pensioner or village labourer depending on his daily toil, he may save first the premium for 5 acres, and this being cultivated the premium for other 5 acres and subsequently the back 10 acres, making in all a farm of 20 acres in one block.

The village lot of one acre remaining ns now the condition of fulfilment of fencible duties, or to simple villager, on condition of 5 years location and improvement by culture, enclosingorbuilding. Thus no progressive appropriation of agricultural lands, could remove Ills right of acquirement and on such easy terms, as must ensure independence to his family, and even was he to die, or to quit the country, his family would have something to fall back upon; and if from any dereliction of military duty as a pensioner, he he deprived of his cottage and acre, he would still have his claim as a villager for his farm, under the right of securing the total, within the limited time of military service. A Block of 480 Acres, in 40 A era: Farms.

A Block of 240 Acres, in Village 20 Acre Farms, subdivided into 10 and 5 Acre Lots. Through these advantages, the needful artificers would be encouraged to locate themselves in the interior, as the advantages of a small farm would supply their maintenance during such periods as their trades were insufficient; and, in this disposition of such lots, in suitable positions for villages, tending to carry a mixture of European labour into the interior, would no way impede the progress of feeding, but rather facilitate the occupation of the up-hill and remote districts, by iurnishing an in increasing population, as herJkeepers; and many such settlors themselves would, by such moans be encouraged to become small flock masters, and thus aid in providing a legitimate course of letting the waste country in a safe and profitable manner. I think, also, by such a general system the W3nts of Land Associations would bo furnished in every locality, as the blocks would bo selected by the Government, according to the extent oi country and probable demand.

The protection of the industrious labourer being always a local matter, is less difficult, perhaps, than the application of general rules,which can embrace a continued future for an equal advantage to those immigrants whose greater capital would bring them to settle as farmers in the extended sense of agriculture, grazing, and sheep-feeding, similar to their former occupations, and calculated to introduce the benefits of capital, knowledge, and science at an early period. Tliis class of persons generally complain, and justly, that after a long voyage, with uncertain hopes, they find two unexpected difficulties; first, the better portions of the land are taken up by persons settled in the colony, very often engaged in other business, which, while it affords an outlet for their productions, renders them at the same time not wholly dependent on their landed possessions, and as such are obstructive competitors in the public market. And in the second place the immigrant being a person either of reduced capital or otherwise limited means, through the_ great difficulty of realization and expense of immigration, cannot compete, beyond fixed sums, against other persons already established in the country, who, in addition to their spare capital, can, by their other business, command a credit, if needed, to ensure any choice land.

From those circumstances the new immigrant is at the mercy of, instead of being protected from the competition of prior colonists ; and it seems needful, if possible, to maintain amove equitable protective system if we would desire to encourage intelligent, first-class settlers to come to distant colonies such as tliis. It is with this view that I urge on your Excellency the consideration of those clauses giving the primary grant to any immigrant at the upset price, exclusive of any chance of competition with older colonists ; who are always in a better position to buy against competition in the general market, from having overcome the losses always, more or less, consequent on first operations, by mistakes, unforeseen difficulties, change of climate and soil, and the numberless impediments attending a distant and, perhaps, a back location. And therefore, I do think that to all other applicants the vendue by auction should remain as the fairest and most proper mode for the country ; and because such persons, from local knowledge, are well able to judge of the true value, and every purchase made by them renders a further disadvantage to those who may be coming, or even then on their way to the colony ; to such it is almost a colonial duty, to make their settling dov n a matter of certain acquirement as far as possible, Conceding these points, I would also suggest a check being placed upon inexperienced young men embarking in speculation on land ; which, by these conditions, would be open to them, as well as liable to the covered purchase by merchants. And to prevent such, I would recommend to adopt a former condition of other colonies, viz.—that such grants should neither be sold nor mortgaged under a period of five ye n's, and that the priority of repurchase should lay with the Government on payment of original upset price, together with the value of permanent improvements. Such a clause would, I think, be no more than a proper protection to the colony’ against concealed land jobbing ; and would leave sufficiently’ - free under the indulgence ot a primary claim at upset price, to all really r intending bona fide settlers. The peculiarity’ of the colony of New Zealand demands a more careful distribution of its lands than need be in extensive colonies, undisturbed by the just and actual claim of occupancy by a prior people : and move especially as it is needful those people be protected from dangerou- intrusion, at the same time the comparative uncontaminated mental field be morally as well as socially’ cared for; and, remembering that they must inevitably form a very large portion of our social constituency foi many years to come, and not the mere remainder of an expiring race. It may be urged on me that 1 would destroy the advantages of cheap land to a large body of persons within the colonv. And, unquestionably Ido; but the advantage of the country being opened to them still remains , nor would I check the actual location of persons themselves ; and I conceive that amongst the colonists themselves the land should be allowed to fetch its real value, (especially considering tnat otherwise taxation must take place at a much earlier period for internal improvements,) while we arc bound to facilitate the independence of every immigrant, who, by hopes licb.l out to him ot a sufficient farm on cheap terms, has been induced to give this colony a preference ; this hope being in most cases the motive of choice.

While 1 am far from presuming that my suggestions are the most likely to produce a desirable result on any of these points, I confidently trust that the importance of the subject will excuse this long detail, and hope it may be conducive to fixing in your Excellency s cetermination some plan consistent with the future benefit ot this colony. I have the honor to be, Your Excellency’s most obedient servant, Wm. Powditch.

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