THE LAND QUESTION

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 103, 29 January 1870, Page 6

THE LAND QUESTION

(To^he Editor of the Tuapeka Ti'ines.)

Sik, — In resuming the subject of my last communication, I pointed out what, in my opinion, would be the best solution of this important question, and which, I am convinced, will ultimately be adopted, viz., free selection over the whole of the unalienated lands of. the colony, whether surveyed or unsurveyed, by which any person desirous of obtaining land would be enabled to select it where it suited Jiim best, upon the following conditions — .Ist. That upon giving satisfactory proof of his being a bona fide applicant, to be allowed to select land to the extent of 320 or 640 acres, with grazing right over double the area selected, until such time as it was taken np. 2nd. Residence within three or six months after granting of application being one of the conditions to be strictly enforced. 3rd. Two or more applications on the one day for the same land to be decided by lot. 4th. The land to be paid for at the option of the purchaser in ten yearly instalments, at the rate of 2s. per acre per annum. 6th. At the end of the above period, the whole of the land to be fenced in, one-third to be broken up and under cultivation, and altogether improvements made to the extent of 40s. per acre ; all which conditions being complied with, the selector to receive a Crown Grant. A land law based upon the principle indicated above, would be adapted to the requirements of the country at large, and to the goldfields — with slight modifications — infinitely more so than the present -cumbrous leasing system, as a provisio •could be inserted empowering the Government to resume possession at any time, say -within three years, after the land being taken up, upon paying compensation, to be determined by arbitration, to the selector, if the land was found to be auriferous. Until such time as we have a Land Act upon the above principle, so long will we have this wretched tinkering with the present Act in the shape of Hundreds Regulation Bills and Bills for the Regulation of Hundreds, &c, unseemly contentions, animosities, class fighting against class, and corruption stalking in our midst. Let us, by way of example, look at the neighbouring colonies of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. A few years ago they were similarly situated as we are at the present time, population and capital, and men fast leaving them, and after a struggle of seven years' duration they were compelled by the instinct of self-preservation to give ■way and unlock the lands with a liberal hand ; but what did their previous insane policy cost them? In the colony of Victoria alone I estimate that about £2,000,000 of capital, and at least £10,000 of the flower of its population, have been lost to that country, solely through not having a more liberal land law during the time ■when their goldfields were in the hight of their prosperity ; and despite the devoted exertions of a band of men, foremost j among them being our much-respected judge, Mr. Wilson Gray, they would not, or could not, see their error until well nigh too late. We are at present similarly situated as those colonies were eight or nine years ago, although one would naturally think that we would have profited by the bitter experience we have liad of the disastrous results ensuing from a,n illiberal land system. The inference to be deduced is that this state of affairs is caused by the influence brought to bear by capitalists and the squatting community, whose interests are diametrically opposed to a liberal land system. I look upon squatting as the curse and ruin of these colonies, as by its means the lands are locked up in the hands of the few, to the detriment of the many, thereby causing stagnation, stopping immigration, and retarding the progress of the country for an indefinite time. The system was a sound one in the earlier days of the province, when they took up their runs and held them upon this tenure, viz. , that at any time the whole or any part of their runs were required for public purposes, they must clear out, on receiving twelve months' notice, without compensation. Having taken up their runs upon this distinct understanding, of course they coxild not complain ; but gradually, as British capital began to flow in, they felt themselves more powerful, and then commenced to insert the thin end of the wedge. First they agitated for fixity of tenure, to enable them to make improvements ; then they clamoured for compensation, and got it — throwing dust in the eyes of a too confiding public by continually reiterating that it was to their interest to promote settlement, at the same time doing all in their power to obstruct it. The result of this runious policy is, that it will cost the Province of Otago something like £300,000 in compensation before the land can be released from their iron grasp. The magnificent revenue of £50,000 a year, derived from our pastoral estate, is exultingly pointed out to \is, but at what a sacrifice has it been acquired 1 A whole year's revenue of the entire province will have to be sacrificed before what has been done can be undone, •while the lands are locked up in the hands of a few, immigration virtually prohibited, trade and commerce stagnant, and the prospects for the future dreary in the extreme. As an instance of the criminal indifference of His Honour (notwithstanding all his promises) and Executive on this question, I will cite the district of Mount Benger, with a population at present of about 1200— some years ago v, much greater number. It will scarcely "'je credited when I state that since the year 1862. when the first influx of popultion took place, 2500 acres of land have ■ in opened for settlement, I do not icon the Shingle Block or the Island, 1 >oth these transactions are, and will , a lasting disgrace to the Provincial :cciitive. Their attention has been sctsd, almost times without number, ' blie paople of this district to this very vfcisfii&tox'y state of things. SomeV&sif wearied by their importuniror land, ra a fit of phrenzy, give -i a block of shingle ; another time, " acceeding to their moderate demands, the Island into the hands of a . ' Jthy squatter. We all know what . „,at things wer4 expected from His

Honour the Superintendent when soliciting our votes — how he would move the spheres to restore to us our birthright. When pressed upon this matter, he invariably repeated that his views on this question were in exacv accordance with onr own, but all the time took no steps, could not see how the money was to be got to pay the compensation to the ranholders, although he can see his way clear enough to get nearly £500,000 for one of his usual visionary schemes, the railway to Clutha — a work which, making a very moderate estimate- will not pay working expenses for ten years to come. If, instead, he honestly directed his energies to induce settlement, railways would come in due course, without the aid of a Government stimulus, and we would not have to add to our already too heavy liabilities, which at present amount to about £777,000 ; add to this the proposed loan for the Port Chalmers and Clntha Railways, say, in round numbers, £500,000 ; and if the annexation of Southland is accomplished, it will add about £500,000 additional — making in all a debt of £1,777,000 ior a province (including Southland) with a population of only 57,000. It is high time that a change was effected in our system of government. In my opinion the time has arrived for the abolition of Provincial Governments. The system was undoubtedly the best which coiild be devised in the early days of the Province, but now it is an expensive and cumbrous machine, owing to the fact that we cannot get men able and honest enough to carry it out economically and on sound principles. I would instead propose that Provincialism be done away with ; the provinces be divided into five shires or counties, each to have its own council and the disposal of its own revenues, with the exception of a certain proportion to go to the General Government, to be fixed by the General Assembly. Ist. I would propose Waikouaiti, Palmerston, Hampden, and Oamaru, to be created into a shire or county. 2nd. Mount Ida, Dunstan Creek, Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, and Queenstown. 3rd. Mount Benger, Switzers, Tuapeka, Waitahuna, and Waipori. 4th. Balclutha and Port Molyneux, to the Mataura. sth. Tokomairiro, Glenore, East and North -Taieri. Although this may at first sight appear a wild scheme, we are in all probability rapidly drifting towards it, by the extravagance, recklessness, and stupidity of the Provincial Government. I am convinced that the system above alluded to would be more satisfactory and less expensive by one half, as many of the officials of the present regime could be dispensed with, and amongst them His Honour the Superintendent, with £1000 a year in his wake. — I am, &c, Settler. Roxburgh, 18th January, 1870.