SQUATTERS VERSUS AGRICULTURISTS.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 200, 10 January 1866, Page 2

SQUATTERS VERSUS AGRICULTURISTS.

TO THE EDITOE OF IHE SOUTHLAND TIMES. Sib, — It is amusing to observe the continuous endeavours of some individuals in your Invercargill community to attain a position for themselves or their own pet theories of colonial politics. No amount of public apathy or opposition seems to convince those people that the views they so pertinaciously cling to, and advocate with so much unwearying zeal, are evidently at variance with the native good sense of the public, and the ordinary course of rigid natural laws. These remarks refer, as you will readily conjecture, to the humble efforts of the happily few amongst you, who can see in the politics of this colony scarcely anything but the bitter antagonism of its two great classes, viz., the squatters and the agriculturists. Such views, although perhaps more congenial to the democratic mind of the Australian element, of your community, are altogether foreign to that high conservative and loyal spirit which always has animated and distinguished New Zealand over and above the rest of these southern colonies. And if you will kindly afford the necessary space in your columns, the true position of the two interests referred to will be briefly touched upon and shown to any unprejudiced mind to be entirely free from any antagonism whatever. Nay, it might with great truth be urged that instead of being antagonistic, the institution of squatting is more interested in the safe and gradual development of agriculture than any other interest in the colonies ; for in the progress of industry and accumulation of the nations' wealth, the large proprietary holders of the soil will find their surest and greatest source of prosperity. The introduction of enterprise, intelligence, and capital into a young or semi-civiliaed country, has, from the earliest epochs of human progress, obtained for the first introducers great and undeniable advantages. Instances of this inevitable law of nature mark every step in the track of either ancient or modern civilisation ; but to go no further away than the case of our own country, it may be seen there how a small band of men, under the Norman William, pushed their way into and over the then barbarous Britain ; and, by the exercise alone of superior intelligence and enterprise, laid for themselves the foundations of the first aristocracy of the world. The early pioneers of this colony, or at least this island, have not had certainly to contend in mortal combat with opposing semi-barbarians ; but each one of them had to cope, aud did cope, with perhaps even more dangerous foes — the unknown and iron-bound coast, the trackless forest and wide morass, the dreary wilderness and deep and sullen river, or the frowning precipice, the swollen mountain torrent, and the thousand-and-one-ills that all but pioneers of a new country can have but a faint conception of. If then by the exercise of hardy enterprise, wealth, and intelligence, these islands have been opened up a3 new fields for the development of human industry, it may safely be relied upon that that enterprise, wealth, and intelligence will, if continued to be exercised, secure their just reward in the legislation, in the soil, and in the power and influence of the country. Such is the spirit that the Parliament of New Zealand has always breathed, and such must it continue to be animated by, if this Britain of the South can ever expect to approach a resemblence to the power, wealth and influence of our Fatherland. It is manifest, then, that the early pioneers of this province, in common with their class all through the island, must possess the weight, influence, and wealth, which their position as the first introducers of capital, entitle them ; and any attempt to deprive them of those advantages is not only unjust but perfectly futile, and can only hinder the gradual development of all the best interests of the country. The rights of the early pioneers in the soil of the country they have opened up, have not in this province obstructed the progress of general settlement. A liberal and extensive system of agricultural areas has always been open for those adopting Southland for their home. At the present moment, hundreds of thousands of broad acres remain open for selection for agricultural pursuits. And in the month of March next, under the new Land Act, in the enacting of which squatting interest had their usual predominant influence — the whole remaining area of the province will probably be thrown open to the agriculturalist, if he chooses to invest therein. It is evident, therefore, that the interests of agriculture have not in any way suffered at the hands of the powerful squatting interest, and why should they? A3 previously remarked, the rights in the soil inherent to the early pioneers of the country, places those pioneers in the best position for retaining those rights by purchase to all perpetuity, which doubtless will be taken advantage of as opportunity arises. The interests of the squatters and agriculturists will thus every year blend themselves mutually together, until they are finally assimilated to the fixed positions of landlord and tenant, as in all stable and prosperous countries. Seeing the nearly unanimous state of public feeling on jthe subject, these remarks may appear almost unnecessary, but on the eve of a general jlection for the colonial legislature, it may be prell to place the matter in its real aspect before the public, in case the specious but shallow loetrines of unthinking or rash politicians may be promulgated on such an occasion to the confusing of men's minds, and the detriment of the general welfare. « MATAUJRA."