TOWNS ON PRIVATE LANDS REGULATION BILL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5474, 12 October 1878, Page 3

TOWNS ON PRIVATE LANDS REGULATION BILL.

TO THE EDITOR Of THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES, Sih. —Such is tho title of the Bill dealing with private rights now before the House of Representatives, which has passed tho secoml reading, and is now. in the hands of the committee, where, in tho interests of all classes of the community, it is to bo hoped it will remain. The Bill in question is, ns it now stands, about tho most iniquitous measure ever promulgated in any enlightened and civilised country not ruled by a despotic Governm nt; and if passed will do more to depress trade and business generally than any measure which has ever appeared on the Statute-book of the colony. It can only bo looked upon as an attempt to confiscate private property, and if persisted in must cause an immense reduction in the price of landed property in or near centres of population in all parts of these islands, which would be highly prejudicial to the commercial and monetary circles, and subversive of the principles of rapid development and extension of settlement in tho country. The Bill is totally wanting in any constitutional principle. It attacks the interests of all classes throughout the colony ; for while it infringes and violates private rights in tho most flagrant manner, it fosters; protects, and continues the errors in townships placed -on the market by the Government, which its originator ('a the most milk-and-water manner) would have tho world believe was his sole purpose in giving bl th to it. To sum it up briefly, no person can, under its provisions, cut up and olfer for sale privately or publicly any block of land of five, ten, or more acres suburban or rural, without first surveyi-g, mapping, draining, and laying off streets 100 ft. wide, without reference to location. Second, hi? map must be submitted to the chief surveyor of any district, who shall have full power*, without consulting the owner of the property, to pick out and select for the Government one-tenth of tho whole original block, without payment or compensation of any kind. Third, should any errors arise in the mapping or laying out of such town, the unfortunate owner, after meekly enduring all tho above spoliation, shall, to give it tone and relish, pay a penalty of £100; and in this free ami enlightened country, if he should dare to sell a section or two of his own property to a friend or other person before it is gazetted, he is to be fined £2O each for every section so sold. The chief surveyor is the great oracle who is to bo consulted, and on whose sole dictum depends the fate of anv township, even after all tho enormous expense has been incurred in the preliminaries: and should it happen that any such chief surveyor is interested, or lias friends interested in any other township, isit.to be supposed for a moment that the inherent selfishness of human nature will not prevail, and end in a refusal to gazette the said township, pos-ibly on technical grounds f As to the onc-tcnth of all lands so taken by the Government, is it likely that the chief surveyor (in whom supreme power is vested) will select the worst V Certainly not; and it may so happen that where a parcel of land has a long and extended frontage, with no considerable depth, this one-tenth may be so selected as to monopolise the very best and most valuable sections. Lastly, tho most important feature of the case is the imme-'se injury this Bill (if it becomes law) will do to the work! g classes. Land must necessarily rise where the facilities for putting it *u the market are wanting, or so heavily encumbered with such stringent regulations as to preclude tho ordinary operations of buying and selling. The industrious working man, instead of being able to secure a healthy suburban freehold for himself and family, will bo compelled to retire to those back slums, alloys, and lanes some gentlemen seem to have such a righteous horror of. I commend this Bill to the careful consideration of every person who has the Interest of his adopted country at heart, and would protect his property from unjust confiscation.—l am, &c., . Junius.