The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, MAY 22, 1869. "Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 67, 22 May 1869, Page 2

The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, MAY 22, 1869. " Measures, not Men."

The policy of the new Government on the Land Question will command the respect and support of the entire community. Its worst fault springs, not from any error or illiberality on the part of Government, but from the defects inherent in the Hundreds system. It is proposed to declare blocks adjacent to all the principal centres of population on the Goldfields, Hundreds, and to sell these in sections of not more than two or three hundred, nor less than fifty acres. Further, the Government intend making provisions for securing the depasturage of the unsold portions of such blocks to the bona fide, settlers on it. Unfortunately, the Waste Lands Act makes no .provision for deferred payments ; indeed, by Clause XLVII of that Act, payment is enforced within fourteen days after any person has been declared purchaser

of a section. This is a radical defect, and should be remedied as soon as possible, as it virtually debars small capitalists from becoming holders of property. Even supposing that a man has capital enough to pay for a section, it could be much more profitably laid out in improving and cultivating land, and thereby increasing the wealth of the community. It may be urged in opposition to this that any man possessed of a hundred pounds' worth of land can easily raise £70 on mortgage ; but it must be remembered that, although such a loan may be obtained on the most favourable, terms the payment of the yearly interest does not lessen the original amount of the debt, and there is always a risk of the mortgagor foreclosing at an inconvenient time. Under the system of deferred payments, on the contrary, the owner retains a portion of his capital, and gradually reduces the burden upon his area. An alteration of the law embodying such a reform is, however, beyond the powers of the Provincial Council, but any recommendation of theirs will no doubt receive due attention from the Assembly. Another matter of great importance is, that due attention may be paid to the interests of the mining population. By the Waste Lands Act only existing rights are concerned, and no provision is made for bringing new races, &c, through land held by a private per&or. Such a state of affairs tends to paralize mining enterprise, and should receive the careful consideration of those concerned in framing agreements with future purchasers of land. The " Otago Representative Ordinance " has passed its second reading, and been referred to a select committee. So important a measure should not be allowed to .pass without comment. The number of members of Council is to be reduced to thirty-five, and all direct representation for the Goldfields to cease. Instead of the old system, it is proposed to divide the Province into twenty-three districts, each returning one or more members. We appent the proposed distribution : —

While fully concurring in the necessity, for an entire redistribution, we can neither compliment the framers of the Bill on the success of their endeavour nor on its appropriateness at the present time. The first thing requisite is an enlargement of the franchise on a registered residential manhood basis, and the introduction of vote by ballot. When these reforms have been carried in the Assembly, it will be time enough for the Provincial Council to consider the distribution of seats.

The Estimates for the current year display an anticipated deficit of £78,000. This is a startling fact and should be duly considered by the liberal minded Councillors who oppose the very inconsiderable reductions proposed by the present Secretary and Treasurer. MrM'Lean indeed appears to consider his duty to be simply that of mouth-piece to the various heads of departments, and although his recent appointment may plead as some extenuation for his sins of omission, there is little doubt a man gifted with a greater degree of originality and courage, would have made a bold attempt to confine expenditure within the bounds of income. We have in another column reviewed at considerable length the statement of Mr. M'Lean's predecessor in office, and unfortunately very many of our strie hires are applicable to the proposed expenditure, Our remarks on the -enormous expense of the Survey Department as at present constituted receive confirmation, and our suggestion that the work shonld in future be done by con- | tract, is supported by a " Return of | work executed by the Otago staff and contract surveyors from March 20th, 1868, to March 20th, 1869," printed by order of the Provincial Council. From this document we learn that in the time specified, 4-38

square miles triangulation, 21,036 acres rural sections, and 903 town sections, were surveyed by Government surveyors at a total expense of £10,012, while the survey of 33,286 acres rural areas, and 75 town sections by contract, cost only £1,6€2, a very considerable difference. A still fairer comparison is afforded by taking the cost of survey by a Government employee, of 5,367 acres rural secetions, which amounted to £847, and comparing it with the contract executed by Messrs. Gillies and Street, who surveyed 17,466 acres rural sections, for £826, or in other words did three times the work for fifty pounds less money. We might point out other instances of extravagance, but as the subject is so fully treated in our supplement, we defer our remarks until the Estimates have passed through Committee of Supply.

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