CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4267, 12 November 1892, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

Ur Hogg and Land Settlement [lO THE EDITOK, WAIRAHArA. DAILY TIMES.] Sir,-In his Pahiatua spoeoh, Mr Hog:; slated that the now Land Aot would secure genuine settlement, and that the lease in perpetuity possessed largo advantages over' the freehold tonure, to all but tho land grabber. Now, that is a very plain statement, and ono which, if it were true, would be a crushing answer to those who argue that the leasehold system is opposed to the best interests of settlement. Unfortunately for Mr Hogg tliore is a plethora of evidence in his own constituency to prove that he is mistaken in his ideas on this subjeot, and ho need not go very iar to be confronted with this evidence. Take the Mount Baker block in this district as a test; and if ever there was a block of land in the country admirably adapted for • small settlement, this may be said to bo the m par millm, It is this block of land that Mr March, tho Government Special Settlement Superintendent, described' to a Canterbury audience as " flowing with milk and •honey." This also is the particular block which took his eye in his tour through tho North Island in search of suitable land for those settlements. He expatiated on the many advantages which this blook possessed over any other he had seen, the rich quality of the soil, the timber, the water,' the climate, the access and the easy distance of communication-nothing in his opin- ■ ion seemed wanting, except a little cultivation to make it a paradise in j perpetuity: a community of leasehold joys. No wonder that tho block was rushed, and rushed in many instances by men as little acquainted with farming as Mr Hogg is with lion- ,

taming, This, however, dons not apply to all, or nearly all, the members of thia association, many of them being practical mon with a fair amount of experience. Now, what is the result ? (Jut of the twenty members who formed the association only eight members are on their land, Of these (.eight, only six have made any improvements. The balance of the land is lying idle; those on the land are continually sending delegates to Wellington urging the Commissioner to bring their case before the Government, as they aro unable to continue on their holdings under the present circumstances. And as if to aggia* vato their difficulties the Government has added six shillings per acre (a terrifio contribution I) to the price of their land, for roads which they have not got! What a contrast, Mr Editor, to those in their immediate neighbourhood, who have taken land under any of the freehold systems. Not one solitary instance has over come under my notico in this district, of any person having taken np land with a right of purchase, wanting to throw it up, Will Mr Hogg tell the members of this abortive) settlement, orany of the Crown tenants in this district, that the lease- , hold givea superior advantages over the [.freehold tenure ? It may surprise the Spiember for Masterton to hear that ; thero is at present in this district a i movement on the part of Crown ten- i ants to amalgamate and demand the i right to purchase their holdings, and j I believe that the scoso of the country | will be with them, and if Mr Hogg i opposes the movement he will prob- < ably find that his own tonure will fall 1 something short of perpetuity, or < even nine hundred and ninety nine ' years! lam,etc,, < Vox Populi. |