TENURE OF LAND IN THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1135, 7 January 1884, Page 3

TENURE OF LAND IN THE NEW HEBRIDES.

° The Vagabond” in a letter to the Argus has I lift following on the subject of land tenure that may be interesting to onr readers : It is nearly two years ago that in San Franeisco my friend Mr George E Barnes look a book from his shelres. ** Haveyon read Poverty and Progress V said he “ It is a most remarkable work, by a most remarkable man.” Now, as onr great conntry, particularly the Pacific slope, is always producing remarkable works and men, I took little heed of this at (ho time and it is not until lately that I have had leisure to properly study Mr Henry George's grand book, which appears from internal evidence to have had an effect in forming the opinions of the " lender ” writers in New Zealand and Australia for many months past. Much of it comes to mo «s a revelation, although years ago I preached to the farm labourers of England that their social condition could not be materially alleviated under the present system of land tenure in England. Mr Henry George might be pleased to know that I read Poverty and Progress, in native villages in Western Polynesia in the midst of the system of primal land tenure to which he refers. “In all primitive societies,” says M. Emile de Lnvcleye in his worijPrimitive Property “ the soil was the joint property of the tribes, and was subject to periodical distributions among all the families, so that all might live by their labor, as nature has ordained.” Mr Henry George amplifies on this text. I believe this to be true of all the islands of the New Hebrides, but of Tanna I can positively assert this to be the custom. Power may have been concentrated in the hands of some great chief who has claimed the lands of his tribe, or “*of those he has eonqnered as his own, but the rule still holds good. The division of land between individuals or families is only made for temporary purposes ; “ a recognition of ■i~ f tbe particular and exclusive right to things which are the result of labour.” Thus the land may belong to the elan, but the trees presumed result of some sort of labour or cultivation—to an individual. Right to a tenancy must be held by a possession. The Rev Mr Gary, of Wnisesi, quotes to me a case in which a native of the island of Aniwa holds land in Tanna whenjie occupies it, but when away it is given to another. Of the ancient custom of periodical distribution there is no question. Near Port Resolution at the present moment the members of a small tribe are claiming this, after the death of a late powerful chief. They tnay have to fight for their right, bnt they will get it.