The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, OCT. 16, 1888.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2538, 16 October 1888, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, OCT. 16, 1888.

Equal and exact justico to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

In the conrso of our previous discussions on the subjects of settlement ■and increased population it has been pointed out that the high land values in this colony have been one of the principal causes which have completely choked the operation of both these important factors in the natural progress of the country, which we have named above. A lthough the prices of land have fallen immensely during the last two years from the utterly unreasonable inflation to which they had been led by speculator.", they are even now above the value that should be placed on land intended for agricultural purposes The consequence is that people to settle in our country districts cannot be induced to forsake their English homes to seek their fortunes in this very remote dependency, where land is so absurdly dear and the encouragement so small for settling and embarking profitably in farm ing occupations. America and Canada are far and away more attractive to the migratory portion of the British population. Even without going from England, British agriculturists can procure farm lands in their native counties at prices far below those asked in New Zealand for land very much inferior in quality and improvements. A short time ago it was slated in an English paper that well cultivated farm lands within twenty miles of London were selling at three and four pounds per acre. Compare this with the prices asked for Waikato farms, which have been offered at from twenty pounds downwards, and the absurdity seems monstrous. The price placed by the Government on the Waste Lands of the Crown set apart for selection or purchase, varying from two pounds and uuder, is prohibitive for small farmers with moderate capital. A writer in the Herald, who has been paying a visit to the Mother Country lately, put the matter very plainly. He says nothing struck him more forcibly than the price of land and rents in England as compared with those of New Zealand, especially Auckland. The difference is vastly in favour of the former country, and gives to it that solid appearance of comfort and stability it lossessts. lie instances the rents in Birmingham with its half million of fixed population and weekly floating population of many thousands from the surrounding districts, as beside the rents in Auckland with its handful of sixty thousand inhabitants situated'in the nltimn thnh of the world, farms in the vicinity of Birmingham can be purchased cheaper than farms within eight miles of the colonial city. Til'-; low rents, prices of land, and many other facilities that cannot be obtained in the colony, would enable an industrious farmer, with the ready resources which a few years' colonial experience would give him, to do much better in England tliau out here. As Mr Wood, the correspondent referred to, states : — " It's no use lecturing there on emigration, unless much greater attractions can he offered than at present. No matter what a mail has to dispose of there, he has a market at his doors, at some price. There are thousands of acres of laud in the Waikato lying idle—and likely to do so ; for if a purchaser comes along, such a price is asked as will not allow him, if he buys, to get salt for his porridge out of it. It will pay the Government to give Mr Dixon's Emigration Society free Crown grants if it will bring sterling men and English capital into the country." This is unquestionably true. There is such a steadily increasing disposition in Great Britain to encourage the creation of small farm holdings and a peasant proprietary, that ere long it would * not be surprising to see the British people colonising their own country. Various plans have been tried, and are in process of development, berth by the Government and large landowning, to place the occupation of the soil within the reach and means ot working farmers. On a late public occasion the Earl of Aberdeen, referring to the disposal of his own extensive properties, said lie was inclined to sub-divide them into small holdings for small farmers, an experiment which he declared was lyorth the trying. The same feeling i« anituating a considerable r.uuiber of landlords of the same class. Whilst the most liberal views arc filling the minds of historic faniiii«e and hereditary landed proprietors, statesmen and other public men on the

question of land tenure and the occupation of tin; soil by the people, there is in those iron countries a great absence of the sarin; bread ill of liberality that is doing much to keep the progress and prosperity of the country in a backward state. The existence of such an anomaly as speculation and inflated prices of land in a now country, which requires population to build itse'f up with, whilst the. Old Country is desirous of being relieved of its superabundant masses is endeavouring to place land within their reach at a cheap and generous rate, is a curious feature of the times. The greatest want of the colony is population and small farm settlements ; until a liberal Government give us those, we cannot advance as we should, nor will our heavy burdens grow lighter. .