A SPECIAL SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATION FOR WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VI, Issue 1877, 31 December 1884, Page 2

A SPECIAL SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATION FOR WELLINGTON.

'• (From tho Evening Press) ' The proposal to from Small Farm Associations under Government auspi : ces has been taken up with conisider able interest in various parts of the country, but in Wellington the scheme is apparently received with' utter indifference, notwithstanding the great advantage it would be to all classes to relieve the surplus' of labor from the city, and settle a .-'portion of it upon the soil of the ooitntry. TII6 conditions for taking up land under the Association scheme are very easy. The land is cheap,Vtho terms of payment extremely favorable, and occupation is not insisted upon for the first two years,' We believe, under such inducements, a powerful and successful Association oould be formed in Wellington, which could secure a suitable bloak of land which would make prosperous homes for its members within a very few years, Possibly Wellington residents are not all so indifferent, to practical land; settlement as might appeacfrom 'the inaction' displayed, whencheapi'lSrstojass land.is now practically going bogging, ' It' may be that want of .'.practical know, ledge of the country or the methods of settling it prevents any action now on' the part of those ofonr citizens-who are wont to'use aa the war'cry, "The Land, for,, tho people.!' 1 , ..Here is ' a chance of obtaining land literally at the. people's own prices, and on their owrv,terms,.and those who are taking advantage of it are not the in> ; habitants of the crowded city longing for country air.and independence, bub settlers of already sparsely' populated country districts I If the new lands are taken up by persons already settled upon the soil, possibly in the same neighborhood, it is hard to see where the value of the settlement scheme will 1 come in. What is wanted is to get men from the already overcrowded 1 oities, where they have not the re--1 motest possibility of bettering their condition, and place them on the land 1 where their industry and perseverance are certain sooner or later to receive ample reward. In this city there are a sufficient number of men of the right ■ form two or three' Associ- \ yet not the slightest move- ■ ment' is made by those chiefly. 1 interested to seize upon the most liberal 1 offer yet made, by the Government to ! induce settlement. Such apathy would 1 make it appear that the cry so .frequently raisedabout land monopoly is 1 a mere cuckoo cry that working men in cities will not take land' when it is thrown at them, This, however, may arise from the cause before mentioned, They do not understand the matter. In that case they should get a practical man who does .understand, it to put them in the right way, Mr W; W. MpOardle, of Mastevtori, who has made the settlement of land his study for years and who has just inaugurated an Association, at JJasterfon under Mr Balance's scheme, wemid he only too glad to assist any body citizens anxious to form a*.similar Association to carry out their desire's, Mr McOardle oould not only put' the Association in working orders ! bvrt> knowing thoroughly the country, he could direct, its.Jeaiera ; to the. jaud suitable for. their, purpose..- What we would, suggests that a public meeting of all interested should' be called,

and Mr McCardle and any other gentlemen practically acquainted with the settlement of land invited to attend. We feel sure such a meeting would lead to good results, and give many Ihe opportunity of acquiring an independent position which, under ordinary circumstances, they would never secure. We should like to see that energetic body, the Trades and Labor Council, move in this matter, and have the question Ventilated, so-that it may be brought home to the artizahs and working, men of the city; that, by looking a, little ahead.and[turning {heir-thought to the soil and its settlement, there;:is better prospect for .those among-' them who are fitted .for the'work of a settler's

life than to continue, working 'in' the city week in and week put, dependant for .their; daily bread on tkiluctuawSs of trade,,; and the '. state. «f. thVlabdiJ. market, which- their reluctance to move out into, the: country -. constantly gluts. . ■ •'.' ■ -'.-' »■.