The Oamaru Mail. TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1910.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10504, 12 July 1910, Page 3

The Oamaru Mail. TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1910.

The observations of the Hon. Mr Anstey threw couThe Runs of siderable light on the Canterbury, pastoral question middle Canterbury, a light which shines as the rain falls—oji the just and the, unjust alike. Among the latter one can not help noticing many specimens of the genus "dummy," that monster of evil which tli© late Sir John M'Kenzie used 10 make ,tlie special marl for the blows of his powerful claymore. This is we believe explainable by the fact that the original lessees complied with the law of acquisition which provides for the utmost obedience to the "one-man-oue-run" principle. It is suggested, therefore, that the transfers are responsible for the state of affairs disclosed by the Timaru critic. Another statement of this authority referred to the attempt made to ascertain by experiment the best methods of adding to "the value of this large extent of country. The bulk of it has deteriorated considerably and the Crown is trying if the secret cannot be discovered of re-grassing, of planting trees, and otherwise improving the conditions. When these experiments are over it will be necessary to provide for the encouragement of the tenants to do the needful; it will be necessary also to guard against aggregation and monopolies, and to guarantee obedience to all the conditions of the law. Mr Anstey added that the improvement inquiry ought to be extended to the discovery of fodder plants to take the place of grass, the case of which : seems to have become hopeless. Moreover, lie pointed out there is the question of subdivision, which is blocked by fear of the present holders. This is a question of appointing the right sort of men to do the work of subdivision. This with the enquiries in the direction of beneficial treatment, and the improvement of tenure required for the due encouragement of enterprise among the tenants, and the prevention of dummyism, ought to restore the great hill interest of Canterbury and North Otago to its ancient elasticity, if even it does not improve it in the process.