A Colonial1 Curse.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4484, 19 May 1883, Page 2 (Supplement)

A Colonial 1 Curse.

The Herald, through one of its correspondents, calls attention to various land rob? beries being perpetrated by the aid and in the cognizance of the present Government, and after giving several details of cases in which the colony has been defrauded of large blocks, it suggests that some independent representative should move in the House for a return showing the area, prices, and localities of land acquired by private persons from'the natives during the past four years. The writer in the Herald is evidently oblivious of the fact that efforts have been made during past year 9, both by members of the Legislature and honest journalists, to cause these daylight plunders to be put a stop to, but without avail, and so long as the present occupiers of the Treasury benches are in office we need expect no reform of the system itntil every acre of available land in the colony has been purloined by them or their friends. The deftness which the Premier has acquired by long practice at landgrabbing is marvellous, and the author of any scheme or measure which would prevent that worthy Minister helping himself and his friends to large blocks of land would defterve unbounded thanks from the whole colony. The Lands Department is controlled by the lob-lolly boy of the Ministry, and doubtless is done so in a mnhher thoroughly satisfactory to those requiring large estates throughout the country at prices ranging from onetwentieth t6 one tenth of their value. Other members of the Ministry, who are not dummies—and very probably some of those who are—cannot of course, be connected with the various land companies, rings, speculations, &c, which are making hay while the present Ministerial sun is shining. That millions of acres are being sold at from 2s 6d up to £2 per acre, the same land being worth from 10s to £13 per acre ; is a most deplorable fact, and one that threatens the ' colony in time to come with a calamity of no mean dimensions. It is, of course, very satisfactory to those who are enriching themselves at the public expense, whether they be Ministers not. The mere fact of having a little obloquy cast upon them or their .transactions, is a very small matter to them, so lone as their possessions increase. Adverse criticism is to them what abuse would be to an extortioner for charging exorbitant interest, affr he had received payment. Seeing the utter hopelessness of saving the colonial estate from the hands of plunderers, by the help of Parliament, it behoves the people to take action in the matter, and by united action endeavor to save the remains of what were once splendid possessions of the State from the hands of land cormorants.