CROWN LAND SALES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2073, 17 July 1890, Page 2

CROWN LAND SALES.

T« THIS EDITOR. Sie,—l quite agree with your remarks re the Act under which the last sale of Crown lands was held, but I think you are in error in supposing the evil is confined to cash purchases, as no person can buy tor cash more than 640 acres of first-class land, or 2000 acres of second-class land. I think you will find the evil you complain of exists to a much greater extent under the, perpetual lease system. What do we find the result of the last sale ? Large tracts of country taken up by members of one family, whose holdings are too large already. Another case: A block of 567 acres of first-class unsurveyed land was valued as a whole at 30s per acre, yet a person was allowed by the Act to apply for the pick of 67 acres of the block and was successful at the drawing. The block of land so drawn is worth at least £4 to £5 cash per acre, yet the person holds it oh perpetual lease at Is 6d per acre. The land is of such quality that it can easily be improved to the full extent required in about two years, without living on it, and what then F W hy, the holder can come forward with 30s per acre cash and acquire the freehold, making at least £8 per acre. There were several sections sold on perpetval lease to which the same remarks would apply. I would say that all lands should be competed for, either for cash or rental, the highest bidder to have the option of paying 5 per cont ( J rental on the price bid, _or the cash, and to prevent over-bidding let it be clearly understood at the sale that ne reduction will be made if the purchaser or tenant find they have given too much, add then 1 think we will haxe fair dealing in land.—l am, etc , tJELECTOI.

[lt has been decided that a freeholder can buy as much as he likae. Mr Baker told a large freeholder last sale in Timaru that he could buy 20,000 acres if he liked. The ease was discussed last year in Parliament, but we cannot lay our hands on the Hansard with it in just now. Of course the whole system is wrong. The only object the present Minister of Lands has in view is to sell the land at any price, so as to get money. He does not care one straw for settlement—what he wants if money. It was no use to explain this to the people. We have done so often, but no attention has been paid to it. Now the people have had the matter brought home to them ; they have had what children get at school—an object lesson, and we hope they will profit by it. I here is no use in crying over spilled milk, but we ought not to continue spilling it by sending men to Parliament who do such things, t—Ed.]