PURCHASING PASTORAL RUNS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 103, 9 August 1910, Page 5

PURCHASING PASTORAL RUNS

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER.

By Telegraph.—Press Association, Wellington Last Night. *'

A strong deputation of Canterbury , M.'s P., headed by Mr. J. Duncan, of " i Wairau, waited on the Prime Minister to-day to urge that an area of 70,000 acres in Marlborough, "which is to be disposed of to-morrow for lease on pastoral license, should be withdrawn from sale, so that in the meantime a report.. might be obtained as to the possibility of purchasing the Kekeranga estate ad- rf joining it, and cutling up both areas for closer settlement. ►; Mr. Duncan stated that the Crown land was gridironed <by the Kekeranga ' estate, own d by the Rutherford' family. What he regarded as a reasonable offer - to sell the estate had been made by the owners, and if it was declined, the case of Flaxbourne might be repeated, in ."; which the estate had eventually been i bought at a higher figure than that at first asked.

The Prime Minister replied he would consider the matter before the morning. He was advised that the Government , should not purchase the land at any- jg thing like 45s per acre, but if it conld be / bought at a reasonable price, the position A would be altered. He had discussed the - matter with the Under Secretary of j Lands and the chairman of the Land ',* Purchase Board, and on a basis of 45s an acre for the freehold and £3OO a year, upset price for the leasehold, it * would cost €IO,OOO to settle six settlers. The capacity of the whole area was only 24,000 sheep, which was not too much for six settlers. However anxious the Government night be, it could not settle icrsons on land at such a cost, rfhe < Government had fixed the upset rental of the leasehold at £SOO and then £4OO, and had got no offer, and the upset was now £3OO.

Messrs. Taylor and Witty remarked that the cost per settler was too high, but suggested that the loss of a year's rental would not be too great for-the advantages of delaying the lease. Mr. G. W. Russell suggested that meanwhile legislation might be passed to ensure an honest price being paid by the State in requiring land. I The Prime Minister said he wag ' anxious to meet the request, but the ' ' cost per head to the settler was the difficulty, especially where money could bo s-ient to settle hundreds. He would consider the matter. ' j