LAND ASSOCIATION.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 771, 3 September 1853, Page 2

LAND ASSOCIATION.

Wc direct the attention of the members of the “Auckland Land Association” to ihe advertisement convening a General Meeting for Monday evening next, for the purpose of receiving the regular half-yearly statements of the funds and assets of the Society, and electing officers for the ensuing year. We have reason to believe that the reports will show very satisfactorily the success of this application of the mutual-aid principle in the way of enabling persons, by the payment of small weekly subscriptions, to obtain freehold properties sooner, and on more easy terms, than most of them could find practicable but for the facilities thus afforded. We learn that there arc now 79 members of the Association, holding \79 shares representing 5580/. *, and that, although the Society ha:?been scarcely a year in operation, the sum of 7R)L has been appropriated from its funds to the holders ofo7 shares, “drawn” at the ballots by which priority of participation in tlJgbeu'efils of the Association is dclermiucd^i Underßmy circumstances the advantages to he derived from this plan of co-operation would be sufficient to induce industrious and provident men of limited means to avail themselves of its aid ; but Sir George Grey’s Cheap [.and Regulations have vastly encouraged and stimulated this desire. llis Excellency has distinctly declared (in his Reply to the Address of the Auckland Land Association thanking him for those Regulations) that one of the objects be had in view in issuing the Proclamation was “enabling the frugal an 1 industrious easily to acquire small freehold properties, either directly or indirectly through associations such as the ‘Auckland Laud Association/” and wc observe that be has since directed further attention in the South to the model thus presented by causing the “Address” and “ Reply” to be published in the Wellington Government Gazelle.

Additional encouragement is derived from His Excellency’s promises,—that lie will cause die [.and Regulations to be so administered as “to afford every proper facility to those whoso limited means only permit them to purchase small farms,’’and that “no effort will be wanting on the part of the Government to procure as*|c\lcnsivc tracts of land as posible, in the vicinity of Auckland, so that an ample choice may be afforded to intending purchasers.” It is understood that a main object of the overland journey in which the Governor is most probably now engaged, accompanied by Mr. McLean, (whose success in negocialing with the Natives is well known), is to effect the purchase of such tracts of land, to be opened at the reduced price to the colonists of the several districts of the country. With such prospects, it is not surprising that the formation of other Associations, based upon the same principle as the “Auckland Land Association,” is contemplated. The Prospectus of one for Onchunga has appeared in onr columns, and the Society will, we trust, speedily be organized and brought into beneficial operation. The Prospectus of another for Auckland and its vicinity has also appeared in the last few numbers of onr paper. This, however, though adopting the principle of shares and small regular contributions, varies in proposing to seek from the Governor the setting apart of a block or blocks of land for the Association, lo be paid for at such periods as the members may successively become entitled to receive their portions of it. The special object is lo secure for men of limited means who may be members of the Association, land at the reduced price, in some of those eligible situations from which they might otherwise be shut out by capitalists and speculators, who could command immediately the sums required for their purchase. The details of this plan, which has many obvious merits, will of course require consideration, and we presume that, before an application is made to the Governor on the subject, the subscribing shareholders will give it all due consideration; while we can have no doubt that His'; Excellency will, in this as in analogous cases,| be] thoroughly willing lo alfprd any

such countenance to the project as may be properly in his power. Yet a third projected Association is advertised for the lirst lime in our columns today. It is to be—not only in principle but in every detail —a counterpart ol the existing “Auckland Land Association ” Ihe advcrlisement explains the reason of its being set on foot It will enable persons who cannot conveniently pay up the arrears of subscriptions—which would be required in order to place them on a level with the other members of the established Land Association —to commence with the payment of the single weekly subscription, putting them thus in the precise position in which the members of the Parent Association were twelve months ago, when the undertaking was begun. We need not say we wish each and allpf these Projects abundant success, and rejoice in the evidence borne by them, not only to the improvement in the circumstances of the working classes, but also to the growth of a well directed spirit of provident care for the future well-being of themselves and their families —as connected with a “la king root” in the line and fertile soil of New Zealand.