UNLOCK THE LAND.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 137, 11 June 1898, Page 2

UNLOCK THE LAND.

» TO THE EDITOR. Sir— Will you allow me space in your paper to protest against the tray in which the present Government is keeping the Crown lauds of the colony locked up, and in uot making available for settlement the thousands of acres which have been bought, and for which the taxpayers are paying interest on the purchase money ? Having lately travelled over the southern part of the North Island, I was much struck with the number of men who*are living on their savings, and out of employment, simply because the Government will not, for political purposes, open the bush lands for selection, so < that men with small capital may employ it in making a home for themselves and families, instead of .spending what little they have in idleness ; and if they apply to the, ( Labour for, .employment they 'cannot get it' unless" they are specially recoramended^ oby0 by some MJI.R. who is a Government juppqrter. We have midwinter nearly, i on.,, , and at present I see no sign of any land being available for settlement this season, and this, too, after so much boasting of what the present Government is doing in .putting settlers on the land. That the electors will show the present Government tjhat their eyes are opened to their tactics at the hext general election is the opinion of Landless. Wellington, 6th June, 1898.