THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 1910. THE LAND SETTLEMENT FINANCE ACT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10008, 2 April 1910, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 1910. THE LAND SETTLEMENT FINANCE ACT.

With reference to a leading article which we published in a recent issue, a well known Wairarapa settler, anc one who takes a good del of in terest in the affairs of the Farmers Union, has called at this office tc give his opinion of the Act. He informed ins, in effect, that the Act was unworkable, and he furthei stated that the objection taken tc the Act, when in the form of a Bill, was made known to Sir Joseph Ward, who, despite the representations referred to, had the Bill put through without alteration. The ground on which the Act is thought by some who have considered its provisions to be "unworka) le," not from a technical, but from a practic-

)] is that eettlers forming an Association are called apon to sign a joint and several guarantee that the purchase money will be repaid to the, Government. For our own part, we cannot see that the socalled objection is objectionable in any way. The opinion that has been expressed to us only goes to show the accuracy of our contention that the Government, instead ot being completely satisfied with the mere passing of a beneficial measure, and one calculated to promote land settlement, should make some efforts to in press upon those most likely to be affecled by the measure what the nature of its provisions are. It is certainly both democratic and progressive on the part of the Government to find the money, but, obvious1/, they must have security for the advances that they make. No doubt there are uther ways that could be devised than that specified in the Act, but the contention is that the Act, as it stand, is objectionable inasmuch that it is, practically, unworkable, because to comply with its provisions means involving himself in a degree of risk which no reasonable man would consent to. But this is not so, to our mind. The procedure I seem to be this: Any number of men, | rwt less than five in number, form [ themselves into an Association and j approach the Government to purchase land on their behalf. The MinI ister for Lands, of course, satisfies | himself that the land is worth the purchase money, the Land Board duly ' reporting thereon. When the money (is advanced the Asoociation becomes j responsible for its' repayment to the Government, and each member of the Association joins with the other members in guaranteeing its payment to a joint, and several guarantee, each \ member pledges his land (it can hardly be said to be his when he has not paid for it), and by way of compensation he knows that the ' holdings of all the others are pledged | also. The Association has very full powers. Should a member of the As- | sociation forfeit his holding the As sociation may sell it, and so forth. Moreover, each member of the Association la 3no less than twenty years in which to pay for his holdi ing, and, practically, in what inI stalments he considers fit. There j does not apptar to be anything very : much the matt r with the machinery jof the Act. The Government, howI ever, should endeavour to a reasoni able extent to impress its beneficial ~ I provisions upon the farming classes I of the Dominion.