THE BIG ESTATES QUESTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2062, 21 June 1890, Page 3

THE BIG ESTATES QUESTION.

The Ashburton Mail of last Thursday says One of the most earnest advocates of a policy of true liberalism—a policy calculated to ensure progressive colonisation and the well-being of colonists—is our southern contemporary the “ Temxjka. Leadee,” whose editor and proprietor constantly and consistently devotes himself to the worthy task of endeavouring to indicate the true way to remove the depression and difficulties which have fallen upon New Zealand, and to substitute therefor progress and prosperity. Nor is he content merely with the sphere commanded by the circulation of a country journal, but has availed himself of the columns of our metropolitan big brother, the “ Lyttelton Times,” to bring bis ideas under the notice of readers of all parts of the colony, During last month that journal printed a series of letters over the signature ot Mr J. M. Twomey, which deserve more than passing notice, and which have indeed been very favorably commented upon by prominent men among the Liberal party. Mr Twomey sees, as no thoughtful man can fail to see, that the work of settlement is not proceeding ns it ought to proceed, and that an entire change in the administration of our lands must be brought about, if we would see a resumption of a healthy condition of affairs. He contrasts very effectively the administration of the lands under Mr Ballance with that under Mr Richardson, the present Minister of Lands, and greatly to the advantage of the former, and urges that the system of special settlements introduced by the bon. member for Wanganui, or a modification thereof, should be resumed, as also the introduction of capitalist immigration so successfully initiated nnder the StoutYogel Government. He also urges that in order to obviate the deterrent affect nnnn this class of immiormrifa of

the present Property-tax, that all implements, machinery, etc., employed in farming, up to a value of £3OOO, should be exempt from taxation. He advocates strongly the scheme of Labor Settlements, i.e, the providing of homesteads for agricultural laborers, which has for years past been championed by the members for Waimate, Timaru, Waitaki, Christchurch South, and others, and further shows that there can be no real progress in many districts in the South Island until the . subdivision of its enormous landed estates is in some way secured, Tet he does not pose as the advocate of a < bursting-up tax or of compulsory expropriation, making a suggestion of his own which is certainly worthy of attention. That suggestion is “that owners of large estates should be compelled to lease their lands in suitably-sized farms, and under Government supervision, for a term of twenty-one years, and at a rental of 5 per cent on the Property-tax value of the land,” (That portion of the letter which refers to this scheme is quoted herein, and the Mail continues.) “ As we have already said, the proposal thus treated of certainly deserves eonsider?tion, and Mr Twomey is entitled to thanks for having at least endeavoured to find a solution for what is really the iqoat pressing difficulty of the day. It may be objected that 5 per cent would be an insufficient rental, because less than the value of money invested, but that is a mere matter of detail; and given that the rentals fixed were equal to what money well-invested will yield —say 6to 7 per cent —it really does not appear that, under the proposed scheme, any real injustice would be done.”