a—l2b

1910. NEW ZEALAND.

CANTERBURY PASTORAL RUNS, THE LICENSES OVER WHICH TERMINATE ON FEBRUARY 28, 1911 (REPORT OF INSPECTION OF), BY MR. REEVES AND MR. PARISH.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

Messrs. H. M. Reeves, Richard Parish, and Robert Guthrie to the Hon. the Minister op Lands. Slß,— T , . iV x , . Lands office > Christchurch, N.Z., 19th October, 1909 iqmq , accordan( f 7* the instructions of the Acting Minister of Lands, dated 27th August th P 9R.h e F r inßP fQ, e , d th m, SB Pa , Storal rUDS ° f Canterbu T the licenses over'which terminate on the 28th February 1911 The only run not examined was No. 237, known as the Upper HurunuT which xve were instructed by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Christchurch, notto visYt In making our report we should hke to point out that our inspection was conducted with the v most peed consistent with the efficient accomplishment of our task, and that we are greatly indebted to the tenants and managers of the runs visited for their hospitality, and for the facilities and assistance unanimously afforded us in carrying out our duties laeuities and cl„*;? Win f g h t0 ?f, taCi n that - Mr - Gutl l rie fdt lt im P° ssible for him to agree with many of the conclusions of his fellow-Commissioners, he suggested that ha should embody his opinions in a separate report and this proposal the Commission indorsed. On comparing his report with that of the majority, you will observe that, while on several points there is a difference of opinion, on many others the three Commissioners are substantially in agreement. We have, <fee, H. M. Reeves, Richard Parish, ~, „ ' ~. . . Robert Guthrie, the Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. p er H. M. Reeves.

REPORT OF MR, REEVES AND MR. PARISH. Sm '~~ -' , . Land s Office, Christchurch, N.Z., 19th October, 1909 In beginning our report xve should like to emphasize the fact that we are in thorough sympathy with the principle of closer settlement, and that in making our inspection xve have b4m animated not only by the announced desire of the Government to promote settlement wherever practicable, but also by our own convictions. This being the case, it is almost unnecessary to remind you that in making our recommendations we have gone as far in the direction of subdividing the pastoral runs under notice as is, in our belief, consistent with the xvelfare of the State's property and with the prosperity of the incoming tenants. After careful investigation we are left with the conclusion that the question of settling the back-country runs of Canterbury is one which should be approached with the greatest caution. However much the State may desire to increase the number of persons occupying its pastoral runs, there are certain obvious facts xvhich it cannot lose sight of, and these facts all point to the necessity for the utmost care. With very little exception the land inspected by the Commission is not what, for want of a better definition, may be termed " small men's country." Its situation, remote from the sea and plains, and at a high altitude—