CROWN WASTE LAND, AND ITS PRICE.

Southland Times, Issue 653, 5 April 1867, Page 2

CROWN WASTE LAND, AND ITS PRICE.

(TO THB BDITOB OF THB SOUTHLAND TIMES.) Sic, — It cannot he denied that there is in the affairs of Provinces, as of men individually, a tide, which, taken at the flow, leads on to fortune ; of course, the difficulty is^ rightly to apprehend when" the flow takes place, while riot pretending to possess more foresight than; others in matters of public interest, yet I cannot forego an expression of my conviction that Southlanders will be neglecting a most important duty to themselves and their posterity if they omit to avail them- ■ selves of- the favorable opinion of the 7 material progress and valuable resources of this TProyince which LEEs Excellency the, Governor so freely and frankly' acknowledged on the occasion of Tfcdsf- ; recent short soj ourri among us, to en-^ deavor by all constitutional means to remove the greatest stumbling-block jin the way to further advancement that this young Province has hitherto experienced, and compared to which the drawbacks of the: past are comparatively insignificant. I allude to the want of a definite settle- ** ment by the General Government of) the price of our Waste Lands. Do not think me an enthusiast when I state that it is impossible reasonably to over-estimate the multitude and magnitude of the interests devolving upon the settlement of this important question. There is ample reason to believe that -Southland is regarded as a pauper -Province among her compeers, and why? Not because she does not possess the elements of great? -. ness,. but -that those elements cannot bey developed .through the stringent shortsighted policy of the General Government towards her. This Provii.ce just " now is in the position of a man emaciated by a slow and lingering disease, who, : ' knowing an effectual remedy,' therefore only lacks spirit to bestir himself to procure the remedy so essential to his restoL ration to health. Now Southland's disease is poverty of blood — i.e., money: " She has done what she can by retrenchment to resuscitate her sinking condition, and so far well, but she must go farther, and probe the seat of the disease yet. That obnoxious clause must be cx r punged from the Loan Act wliich. reserves to the 7 General Government the power :to lower the price of our "Waste Land, and to sell it below its value (or at any price it may like to take) to liquidate our debt. Surely, after the expressions of ; admiration of 'South- . land's energy and go-aheadism just made by the Governor, we should be justified, and may I think, expect success in the attempt. We were told at last" session of Council by more thon one member who had 7 just returned* from; Victoria that large amounts of : : capital were only, awaiting the settlement of the price of land to be immediately expended. in our -midst. I would, ask, is it a small thing that we should delay one day longer to take the requisite steps to remove the only obstacle in the way of " obtaining the life blood for which the [ Province -is— so~ seriously languishing? I Think of the incalculable benefits derivable from being out of debt, a freer circulation of money; and plenty of funds wherewith to prosecute 7 are-productive . public works j and, next in imporianceV / liberal immigration, by which the Customs. Eevenue would be sensibly increased, amd. " a remunerative market found for the quantities of agricultural produce which ' cannot now be disposed of except at prices ruinous to the class of men who must always be the true back-sinews ! 6f the country. Let a monster meeting; of the inhabitants of the Province generally be convened by the Superintendent, for I the purpose of inciting the powers that be to remove the incubus which so seriously affects us. Our representatives in the Assembly would be only too glad, I should say, to aid in the movement, which, if successful, we may all reasonably look forward to such a season of prbsL perity as, compared with our present position and prospects, would seem- to The a foretaste of the millenium indeed. I Yours faithfully,; - f * H. A. GILLEB. ! Kensington, Waikiwi Plain,- ?\7ji 7 April 3rd, 1867. , -, . . „