THE SQUATTERS’ RUNS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1621, 16 August 1887, Page 2

THE SQUATTERS’ RUNS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —"Will you allow me space to make a few remarks on Mr Rhodes’ address at the Point. He said there was plenty of Grown land to settle the people on, hut when asked where it was he could not say. When asked did he mean squatters’ rims he got sorry for what he was going to say, and left the public in the dark. I say, brother electors, this question should be pressed on Mr Rhodes, and on all squatters’ candidates. I think myself there is plenty of Crown land to settle thousands of people on. By giving people- land enough to carry from 1000 to 2000 sheep, and giving it to them at one halfpenny per acre, the same as the squatters get it, would be plenty of small capitalists to take it up. I would suggest to let them have the land free by paying the cost of surveying the land, transfer fees, etc. If there was a law passed to that effect there would be a, rhsh of small capitalists from all countries coming to settle on the land. Then we would hear no more . of the squatter or rabbit nuisance, or ; paid rabbit inspectors, for I am sure i everyone would soon clear them (iff of his part, and there would bo no need ( for Government sending home to | England for wire netting to fence in i the island to stop the rabbits to suit 1 the squatters. I say the Government | of New Zealand are a humbug. ( Settle the people on the land with a { residential clause. Squatters men \

w 1 "i' m "■ 1 "■ will say it is madness to settle menv where there are no roads to be I say they do not want carriage drives; let them get good bridle tracks. J Some will say : How can he pack his wool ? In some bad cases let Govern* ment reserve six or seven acres in some convenient flat, and let the settlers join and get up a woolshed and fetch their sheep there. It is a system that would suit the most of our farmers in the plains, and prevent their having to shear in pig-yards or stables as they are doing at present, and they would get their work better done. I say let the people have the land; they will soon find:ways and means. A man with one * thousand sheep would soon improve his place in a way that it would carry fifteen hundred sheep, by ploughing all the flats and spurs, and getting in grass and turnips, and growing some oats that would feed his sheep in winter. Winter is not so severe here as it is in America or even in the Old Country, and if you were to ask an Irishman or a Scotchman if he could live on one of those free sections, the answer would be “I can." For my part I would sooner live on it than if the Government gave me five hundred acres of the stony plains; that they are settling people on. I would have those men help us to pay taxes and increase the revenue. They would help us to make our railways pay; there would be a local market for our farmers to a great extent, and Government would be paid twenty 'times over for the land. I shall hot touch on large landowners, as Mr Hey, of Pleasant Point, has spoken very cleverly on that subject. With a little Protection New Zealand would be soon one. of the happiest countries in the world. But the country must elect Liberal men, not squatters’ men! If they arewa power their leases will not run out the next generation, and;all our work- ' men or women will have to leave the country for the want of work,-—I am, etc,, , Geraldine Plat, Aug 12th, 1887. [The object of the Political Reform Association, and all the present agitation in favor of Sir John Hall, is to extend these leases ten years longer. 1 Mr Rhodes will - support Sir John Hall, and Sir John Hall will support ’ the squatters.—The Editor],