WITH THE LAND COMMISSION

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue 88, 14 April 1905, Page 2

WITH THE LAND COMMISSION

• [By Tklkomapii.]

(From Oifr Special Reporter.) CHRISTOHURCH, 13th April. Aftor the public aneeting was conclud,d last evening at AsJiburton tho Commission sat for a considerable time in CommiUe, and from all reports the proceedings were not entirely of an harmonious nature. An curly start was made from Ashburton this morning, tho I'ommisbion proceeding by train to Rakaia. Tho re tho Commission mounted into a four-in-hand drag, and had .111othor jaunt through the country, visiting tho Highbnnk Settlement en route lo Methvi'ii. At Rakaia, though no meeting was advertised for this place, it was suddenly decided t.hat ono should bo held, and a Crown Lands Ranger was despatched to a neighbouring settlement on a sort of skirmishing expedition to hunt up moro evidence. It appears that this sudden dopurturc from what had been decided upon was not communicated to the Commission as a whole until they went into Committee a.fter taking evidence at Melhven, and thai when it was announced in Committee thero was uomo protty plain talk on tho matter. AT METHV'EN. Joseph Leggctt, a lenscin-porpotuity sottlor on UlO Highbank Settlement, was 6Btisfied with 'his tenure, which he thought was better than tho froehold. some of tho tenants on tho Highbank Sottlemont wanted the freehold. A good number of tho tenant* had sold otil to nd vantage, and had secured large sums for their goodwill. This was a very hud thing j it would bo the curso of tho settlements. To Mr M'Clennan : Ho would prevent those tenants who sold out from going again to tho ballot for ten years. Henry Dyko Ackland, a pastoral tennnl of tho Crown at Mount Peel, said tho run would be moro productivo if the freehold wore .granted. Of course, every ono would like tho freehold if they could get it. Ho had not considered the question of whether or not the freehold of tlieso runs should be disposed of by tho Stato. An extended tonuro and valuations for improvements woud result in a great improvement in tho runs. Witness thought tho leasc-in-porpotuity tenants should have tho option of the freehold. It seemed to him that the money for those estates was borrowed in England; tho Government was simply acting as agents, and collecting rents for nbjontoo landlords nt Home. It would be hotter to give tho tenants the froohold, ond save the cost of administration. To Mr. M'Cutchan : Tt would bo a good thing to put the 10 por cent, rebate now given to Crown tenants into a spociai fund as an insurance against loss in bad times. Oharlos Fitzroy Overton, a pastoral tenant at Rock wood, gave evidence on the sumo lines as Mr. Ackland. Chan. Spuy, Crown teuant on Highbank, complained that his section of 100 acres wns too small. Ho wanted to "get up another rung on the ladder-," but could not go in f/>r a larger section under tho law as at present ilo was satisfied with his tenure. A big percentage of the eettlerw on Highbank were agitating for the freehold, but ho would not exchange his "liMlo bit of section" for a freehold. Wit110s thought it wds Mr. Seddon's butcher shops at llomc that had put tho increased price on the land. Witness had found tho Advances to Settlers Department very satisfactory ; it hud done a power of good in the country. He thought tho Department should advance moro money 011 improvement* than it wa*. now doing. W. C. Anderson, Crown tenant on llighbnnk, said ho wanted more land, He would not sell out for tho value of his improvomonts alono. lie wanted the goodwill as well. George Stockdill, another Highbank tenant, favoured lease in perpetuity. If the Government once broke its trust there \vn* no saying where it would stop. Joseph Gilpin, a Highbank tenant, was satisfied with' the tenure Anthony C. Thompson said he was satisfled with the lease in perpetuity. Tho Commission returned to Rakaia by train, had a hurried dinner, and met in the little Courthouse, lit by a kerosene lump and two smoky candles. At 7.15 p.m. tho local policeman, one local resident, and the Crown Lands Ranger and a small boy were in attendance. Apparently Iho hunt for witnesses hud not been ft KUCWSK. Tho Chairman explained that he hml decided to cull a meeting, and had. mranged for the Crown Lands Ranger to go round thn district and «cc if any set tiers would like to give evideucc. The rttnger had informed him that ho hod done this, and that several settlers would be present. Tf any gentleman present wished to give evidence ho said ho would bo obliged if they would kindly come up. There was no 'response to this request, and after a long silence, Mr. C. A. C, Hardy, M.H.R. for the district, who who present, said ho had been naked by a. number of pconlo if the Commission was going to hold a meeting there, and had 'replied in the negative, as he had noted Hint no meeting had been advertised. In other plies' \yhero the Commission had gone all meetings had been advertisedrhefo tvero'a. number of people living about Dunsandel who were particularly anxious to give evidence. Ho was very worry if he had misled them in saying that thero would bo no meeting. The Chairman : Oh, you did not mislead them. You are just stating what is the fact. Wo have a nieeting at Christcnurch on Saturday, in the Provincial Hall, afc 10 o'clock, and on Tuesday and Wednesday aftor Easter. The Commission reached Christchurch lato this evening