CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9614, 7 October 1909, Page 6

CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

To the Editor. Sir,—l notice in your issue of last Thursday that a deputation of the newly formed League waited upon the Hon R, McKenzie, advocating closer settlement, and that they also had a meeting last Monday evening. I myself have since anxiously watched your paper, hoping that some abler pen would take up the cause, but so far have been disappointed, and like the old soldier who has fought in one victory, feel eager for battle again. In advocating inland frnezing .works I advanced nine points in their favour against a seaport works, which drew out interesting letters oh each side, with a result that the inland sits has been selected. Nowjet us see what the ad« vantages of closer settlement would be to the town and district generally. The large runholder is the pioneer settler, in fact the backbone of a new country. He takes the first great step on the road of civilisation, and Jays the foundation of towns, roads, bridges, and railways, •but when those towns have been huilt and roads and railways formed, their upkeep demands a greater production from the land, which necessitates a more thrifty mods of husbandry than that which the large runholder is able to sunplv. Hence like the good old servant who has outlived his usefulness, it is necessary tor the puolic good to pension him off by giving him full value for his land. I notice that among Mi Hogg's remarks at the deputation he says that most ot the holdings around Mastorton were in the hands of hard working and practical farmers, with j which it would be unjust to seriously interfere. Now, Sir, with such settlers no sane person would wish to interfere. The trouble is (which Mastertori and the district generally is learning at its cost) there are not sufficient settlers of that class, and until they are increased tenfold the prosperity of the to,vn and district camiot advance. The main and whole object of the League is to settle the large, stations which are avail ■ able Willi such settlers, 'lake for instance an ordinary Wairarapa runholder poisessing 20,000 acres. He produces wool and mutton of excellent duality, for which he pockets a large annual return. He employs a few hands,who spend their wages locally, but the bulk of the handsome profit which his broad acres j produce, he cither accumulates nr spends, enjoying life in the large J cities of foreign countries. There- j fore, the district and town where the wealth is pnr'uced is deprived 10m the benefit of the bulk of it,

while on the other hand, if that 20,000 acres were occupied by, say, forty thrifty settlers. ho*v different for Masterton the result would be. For instance, on a Saturday afternoon we WJuIJ see tfiosa forty settlers driving into Masterton in their locally made conveyances, locally made harness, and locally shod horses, accompanied by their wives, bringing to market quantities of farm by-pro ducts such aft eggs, poultry, etc., and to do their week's shopping. Instead, at present a single runholder, when at home, comes in to town in his car. Then again, the smaller settler whuse energies are concentratsd on a smaller area of land, annually pro duces far mere per acre than the large runholder is able to do, and in order to produce the greater production he gives employment to a much greater amount of labour per acre, which also means an extended local expenditure. In fact it is he who takes the second step in civilisation, takes a greater interest in his surroundings, and tha welfare of the town and district generally which has been easily proved in the present freezing works, which are being established solely by (he settler, and is going to be a great boon to Masterton and the Wairarapa generally. On the other hand the large stationbolder, instead of gving his assistance and support, has oppjsed the industry in every possible way, as he dues in all co-operative industries which benefit the many as they are against his interests, which are purely individual. If any of the citizens of Masterton would like to see the effects of a station transformed into closer settlement let tfiem go from Blenheim up to Seddon, then drive across what was the old Starborough Station, say as far as the Richmond Brook homestead Formerly they would have had one of the most dreary drives imaginable across a ( arge tract of country swept by the wind and nothing as far as the eye could see but bare wire fences, sheep, rabbits, and tussock; but today how different tbs aspect to drive along a good metal road and pass homestead "after home stead surrounded by fine plantations, thriving orchards and beautiful flower gardens, and backed up by substantial farm an] implement sheds, showing every sign of thrift and prosperity, and instead-of tussock, beautiful fields of waving corn, rape and pasture, thickly dotted by thriving flocks of sheep and herds of cattle, and in every direction fine teams of farm horses either tiling the land or conveying produce to the railway station. Instead of the yelp of the rabbit dog one hears the ring of laughter from the groups of fine healthy child ■ ren returning from school; in fact it is one of the most pleasing sights the eye could see. I also note Mr Hogg stated that for the past twenty years he had agitated for closer settlement. How humiliating it must be for him to have to stand up and admit that he had endeavoured for 20 years and absolutely failed, in obtaining a portion for his electorate of the miillion* which the Government have expended for closer settlement. But the chief blame rests with the electors themselves, for when they found that their member was lagging and not obtaining his due share of the moneys expended, they should have turned him out for a three years spell. Then he would have returned full of stored • up energy, and Masterton would have enjoyed a period of favours and pro perity. Thanking you, Sir, for space.—l am, etc., OBSERVER. M.astertor>, o:tober 6th, iyo9.