THE LAND QUESTION

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 67, 22 May 1869, Page 3

THE LAND QUESTION

(To tlie Editor of the Tuapelca Times.)

At a time when a new Government threatens to bid for popularity by yielding to the selfish clamour of a few agitators, it may not be out o f place to review the objects and tenclem iea of the proposed, or, rather, agitated for, opening of land. As a colonist of over thirty years' experience, here and in the Australian colonies, 1 may, without presumption, give tho result of my observations on the small holding system ; and I firmly beliove I'iafc every person who lias been resident as \oivj; as I have in those colonies Avill support my statements and conclusions. The clamour for land starta on tlie assumption that settlement can only bo ellbctod by agricultural pursuits, and to tliis argument I shall first address myself. No industry can be beneficial to a country unless it is also profitable to all the persons concerned, and tin's condition i» one which extended agriculture cannot, in this province, at least, be said to fulfil. The profitable export "of groin is an impossibility, so that tho farmer has only the homo market to depend upon, and this, from our small population, is as extremely limited resource. The other Australasian colonies are all j self-supplying in the matter of breadstuffd; indeed, the state of affairs is worse, for the local producers are actually driven out of their own markets by Californian importations. Any produce raised in Otago, then, over the actual home consumption i.s debarred from the markets close at hand, and competition with the Groat "West and "Russia for the supply of Europe is an attempt too absurd to be seriously thought of. India remains ; but hero, also, American and Australian competition prevents exportation being profitably attempted. Grain cannot become a staple commodity in this province ; while wool always has commanded, and always will command, a ready and profitable market. Further, the production promises to give rise to many important new industries, — a result impossible in a country subdivided into 50 to 200-acre holdings. It appears only a rational conclusion from such a statement that wool-pro-ducing should receive all possible encouragement from the Government, while agriculture should be curbed and restrained within its proper limits.' 3till, it may be urged, it is not merely for agricultural land that the cry is raised, but also for scope for the depasturage of great cattle. How dv ingenuous, after such a confesskm ? are tho attacks of agitators or of popularityhuut'ng jo lrnalists, some of whose staff like the importance of figuring before the public, upon the rnnholdin^ interest, when the conspiracy is simply to defraud one class of pastoral tenants for tho benefit of another. I have yet to learn that sheep are the. moral inferior of cattle ; that the cattleowner Is a better, more intelligent, more honourable, or more virtuous member of the community than the sheep farmer; yet, unless something of this kind is proved, there is surely no ground for committing an injustice for the benefit of holders of large stock. Large tracts of commonage have been thrown open in several districts, and with what result ? The disinterested and patriotic (?) agitators, who talked so much of the public weal, have immediately monopolised the wholo, by covering the tract with their herds and flocks, to the entire exclusion of the small holders for whose benefit the commonage was proclaimed. Tt is all very well to talk of an influential and intelligent body of yeomanry ; but where can such be found ? The system of small, holdings has reduced Ireland to its present pitiable condition; and .the opposite course has made Scotland the world's school of agriculture. The yeomamy of England are a body as extinct as the moa, not on account of any special legislative action, but simply because the system was rotten at the core, and naturally went to the wall before a more enlightened policy. No, Otago eanuot for many a long year become an agricultural country ; but nature has peculiarly fitted her for production of wool, and any interference with the fixed laws of Political Economy is only certain to bring ruin and disaster on the whole province. j

Still, it is urged; capitil is being driven out of the country, and something must bo done. Agreed; but let that something be done justly, and with a due consideration of the most important interest. The runholders will not object to the sale of land in blocks if a fair compensation is allowed them, and will even consent to take it out in land. Suppose, then, land opened for- sale in blocks of from 4000 to 10,000 acres, without any tyrannical restrictions on the quantity to be held by one man, and what will be the result? The possessor of such an area 1 will naturally endeavour to increase the value'and carrying capacity of his area, and stock farming, whether of Sheep or cattle, will be raised to' a higher" position" than it has ever yet occupied. Due attention will be paid to breed, and English grasses take the place of the native herbage. Further, plants of immense 1 value, which at present are not introduced owing to the uncertain tenure of the lartd'i would be planted everywhere. Among these the sorghum, go extensively used in America for the fattening of stock I and manufacture ..of sugar, may be ' specially mentioned, because the cli-

mate of Otago is peculiarly suited lor its growth ; the beet, also, would get a fair trial, and all manner of green crops be extensively grown. Nay, the proprietors, in their anxiety to get a large return from their larid, would be certain to introduce new industries, such as the growth of tobacco and hops ; and the increase of cattle would naturally give rise to the establishment of preserved meat factories. Such would be the result of a truly enlightened land policy ; whereas if the present course is to be pursued,, ruin, pauperism, and over-populatiou are the certain results. My warning voice may be feeble ; Grod, grant- it may not be raised in vain. I trust to your fairness to give it every publicity. — I am, &c,

A Tjrue Patbiot. Manuherikia, May 10, 1869. [We give " A True Patriot " the publicity he requests, rathsr out of respect to the memory of a fallen cause than for any particular novelty or excellence in his letter. His personalities in regard to '' journalists " we can afford to treat with contempt.— Ed. " T.T."]