Correspondence.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1129, 18 September 1879, Page 2

Correspondence.

♦ • j (Our correspondence columns are impartially open to all y but we do not m any way identify ourscloes with opinions expressed therein). Sib, — Now that the elections are nearly over, throughout the colony, the excitement can hardly be said to have subsided yet, as the question is still to be decided whether the Grey Government Avill be able to retain their position. If they can do so, will their policy, as enunciated, be carried out? and especially with regard to natve lands— the most important question at the present crisis— will such a measure be passed, that the greatest facilities may be afforded for effecting tb'e. extinction of the native title ' over the largest possible area attainable? Now, if the Government still persist m withdrawing blocks from passing through the Native Lands Court, and otherwise locking up native lands, they will be injuring the country, by keeping much capital out of it. At the Native Lands Court, held here, about 50,000 acres was passed through, and about twice as much withdrawn, which might noAv have been held by some twenty settlers, with 5,000 aores each. I have authority for stating that, as a consequence of this action of the Government, £100,000 of capital has been kept out of this district. The natives were willing to sell, and there was no likelihood of difficulties over it, yet, on no pretext whatever, did the Government put their veto on the land passing through the Court. Another block of laud m the Ohinemutu district was surveyed, the natives were willing to sell, negotiations were being made for its purchase, but the Government would not allow Mr Brabant (R.M., of Tauranga) to reoommend.it, and so several thousand pounds worth of capital are kept . away, and, perhaps, driven elsewhere. Now, I say this is not doing right to the country. What we want is capital. What would Waikato have been now, but for the money spenl; on the-large estates of the district ? If a man tries to get a fow thousand acres, to cultivate and spend his money upon, the cry of "ktndshark" is immediately raised. But, I say, if a man cac afford to buy a large block of land, and to employ labor to fence and plough, he is doing the very best he can for the country. Take a man with a small farm of a couple of hundred acres, and a little money to stock it— a settler of the class which is most wished for (and, indeed, I think they are a most desirable class of settlers), and then take the man with his five thousand acres or more, and a fair amount of oapital, and 1 think you will find the arge owner will bo able to cultivate a larger acreage, and give employment to more hands m proportion to the size of Ins holding than the small owner. When i man has money, if he is not a. miser he ikes to buy something, and spend his noney on it. A man may buy a house uid improve it, and add to it, and make a jalace of it, but we never hoar him cried lown by any such epithet as landshark ir anything else. A man may spend his ortune m extending his business, and he nay do so to whatever extent he thinks •roper, but no one will find fault with am for it. But a man who buys land to ny extent, is treated m a very different aanner ; and still, I think, he does more ;ood to the country than cither of the ormer. If a man has money, the wider c distributes it the better for the country. l. mansion, however large and luxurious* an only be a benefit to the owner and is servants, and, m a slight degree, to is tradesmen. A business, no matter how inducted, can only give employment to limited number of hands. The house Lay be burnt down, the business may fail at the land is always there, and the imcovementa, effected, by way of oultivaon, &c, imperishable. Again, a man tnnot divide his home and sell to several fferont persons, nor his business either-

but a block of land, no matter how large, can be cut up and sold as required. I cannot see, myself, where tho term landshark applies. Lot a man have as much land as he requires, provided he has capital enough to work it ; and special legislation can take care that he shall do this, or find it too costly for him to hold for mere | speculative purposes. Several large landg wners here are dismissing their men, till they see the result of the present political crisis. If they can get more land to plough and cultivate their men will be at work, but if the lands are locked up they will be idle. Lot the Auckland members see to it, and bring pressure on the Government to pass such measures as will facilitate the sale of native lands. Let them be sold m such a manner, that the man with his .£SOO can buy m the same [ ratio as the man with £5000. But do not | put any difficulties m the way of the latter, that the former may have greater I advantages. What is wanted, is that [ every -man shall have an equal chance m proportion to his means.— l am, &c, Observer. • - Cambridge, September 15th, 1879.