CROWN LANDS AND THE BALLOT SYSTEM.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 416, 2 November 1889, Page 4

CROWN LANDS AND THE BALLOT SYSTEM.

The system of balloting for sections of land offered for disposal by the Government was intended to protect the poor selectors against the power of the capitalist to outbid him at auction sales. It has, however, long been an open secret that ',he land speculator was turning the ballot system to account to secure tor himself an unfair advantage over the bona fide settler of small means in the acquiring ot Crown lands. It has been in our mind to explain the little game for some time back, but the opportunity tor trickery is so obvious under the present system that explanation is scarcely needed. However, we may quote the fol- ■ lowing example clearly set iorth in the Tuapaka Tinus, to show how neatly the ballot dodge has been worked to the detriment of the man who required the land applied tor to make a living out of it. Our contemporary says :—: — " We will explain by giving the history of the sale of 200 acre 3 in block ii., Luna district, advertised tor sale at £2 per acre. John Robinson, who has resided for yeais in the di&trict and whose ambition it is to secure this section with the small capital he has accumulated, makes up his mind to apply, and does so. He lias two rivals— John Wallace and Archibald Thomson — the former a small farmer, the latter a wealthy man owinsc 20,000 acres in the district, bought in the early daj's. Mr Thomson sees a chance of re-selling the land at a profit if he draws the lucky marble, and hence his anxiety to secure the coveted section. Our friends Robinson and Wallace, being men ot limited mean?, put up their deposits and attend at the land sale in due course. Then they have this pleasant little surprise. Mr Thomson is the head of a large family of seven grown and married sons and four married daughters. He accordingly lodges applications for himself and wife, and fdr each of his seven sons and their seven wives, and for each of his manied daughters and their husbands, 24 applications in all. He lodges £3,920 in deposits, which he fortunately can do without inconvenience, and awiits the result with confidence bom of a slight knowledge of the law of chance. The names are solemnly read out by Mr Chalmers, and as Mr Thomson's family roll is called over, there is some slight merriment. Evetyone present 'spots ' the little game, and when the marble is drawn one of J\Jr Thomson's daughters secures the prize, which she at once transfers to her athor, who rakes in about a £100 on a resale. Robineon and Wallace so home to ruminate over the position and to deplore the iact that neither their resources, financial nor domestic, are adequate to give them a fair show at a ballot in Otago." We arc pleased to see it stated that in order to put a stop to this kind of thing the Government have made some new regulations with regard to the system of balloting for sections. — " New Zealand Farmer."