The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1893.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 140, 15 June 1893, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1893.

For tie cause that lacks assistancs, For the iron's that noecls resistance, For the futare in the distance. Jnd th« gooil that we can ko.

The evils of land monopoly in this colony are so patent that they cannot be denied without the most unblushing effrontery; and we are not surprised that when the Premier touched upon t he subject on Tuesday night his straightforward and common sense remarks elicited the loud applause of the audience. Sir George Grey has for many years been educating the public mind on the land question, but it was long before his clear and enlightened views were appreciated at their true value by the masses of the people. In the meantime, the public estate was being swiftly transferred to syndicates and large capitalists. When the Ballance Government came into power a combination of circumstances caused them to look the matter squarely in the face. There was no longer employment for many people in the towns, and they were hurrying out of the colony. That the exodus would be stopped if lands could be thrown open for settlement was the firm conviction of Mr Ballance and of the Minister for Lands, but in the South the white runholder exhibited his Crown grant, and in the North Island the Maori landed magnate was the lion in the path.

To an outsider it must appear ludicrous that with only a handful of people, and little more than fifty years after the British flag first waved over these islands we are already finding it difficult to place the »ns of our settlers upon land; and yet, in the South till the policy of the present Government was inaugurated the farmer's son in the South Island," who within the last few years wished to take up a modest portion of land, found himself blocked out. In securing their estates the large landholders pursued the usual tactics in order to guard against being unduly troubled with " cockatoo " neighbours. In Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury provincial districts, as the Minister for Lands lately pointed out, the water courses had been blocked so that there were millions of acres of back country of no use to anyone except those who had secured the water frontages. This well-known game of "pickingout the eyes" of the country has been the most effectual hindrance in many districts to the introduction of a class of small settlers. In'dealing with the land question the Premier did not confine himself to general remarks, but quoted figures from official returns. These figures throw a dry light upon the adverse comments so frequently made by the Conservative press upon the attitude which the Government have assumed with regard to large estates, and constitute the best answer to the apologists for land monopoly. There are (said the Premier)- thirty-three public companies in New Zealand shown to hold 2,073,788 acres valued at Of these, seven companies hold 1,389,664 acres valued at 1,639. *n lie matter of private holdings it was shown clearly that our present system cannot but be prejudicial to the best interests of the colony. Amongst the large proprietors there are 30 persons who own 50,000 acres, valued at 12,915 ; there are 37 persons who own between 100,000 and 200,000 acres, valued at .£4,952,568; and n persons who own 200,000 acres, valued at ,£4,835,562. These figures speak for themselves. It is true that the evils resulting from the white man's monopoly are most observable in the South Island, but in ! Hawke's Bay the state of things is bad enough. The traveller by train from Napier to Wellington cannot fail to observe that the country, even within the first fifty miles of his journey, is chiefly a sheep walk, and that land capable of supporting thousands of families is in the hands of a few proprietors. There are many difficulties in applying suitable remedies. The Government have adopted two measures, each of which has been fiercely criticised. The progressive land tax has placed a fairer share of the burden of taxation upon the shoulders of the land holders. It has not only assisted the revenue, but has stirred up the owners to effect improvements, and in their own interest to make the property more productive. With regard to the purchaseof large estates for settlement the Governmenthave adopted a policy forced upon them by necessity. Whatever opinion may be held as to the reckless way in which the public estate has been alienated it cannot be denied that the owners acquired their property with the sanction of the Government for the time being. The most equitable plan, therefore, appears to be a system of re-purchase. The Premier lately stated that he hoped the large owners would be patriotic enough to voluntarily offer large blocks of land to be purchased by the Government. On this point we entertain considerable doubt. The rapid development of the frozen meat industry and the brightening prospects of the wool market will, we fear, be too strong for " patriotism " in most cases. A few weeks ago the Minister for Lands said he had various offers of estates from owners, but the prices asked were too high. It is evident the Government must move in this direction with caution. The placing of a number of settlers on lands in the South is undeniably desirable, but may be secured at too great a cost to the country. .Nothing would more completely defeat the purpose of the Land Settlement Act than if owners used it for palming off unsuitable land upon the Government for settlement. In the North our difficulty is of another kind. The importance of solving the native land problem was never so much recognised as at present. Even those least acquainted with the subject could hardly fail to be impressed when the Premier, on Tuesday night, pointed out on the map the immense areas of land still'in a state of nature. The Maoris are willing enough to sell if the law affecting titles can be simplified, and a way found out of the present labyrinth of complications. The Premier rebutted the charge of neglect with regard to native lands, which has been so often urged against his administration, and showed that while the late Government during three years of office only bought some 73,000 acres, the present Government had acquired 378,000 acres. Of the 10,000,000 acres owned by Maoris, Mr Seddon estimates that about 3,000,000 acres are fitted for agriculture. It is probable, however, that a considerable portion of the remainder will be found fitted for grazing purposes. Mr Seddon's suggestion for treating with the natives about land is a simple one. When native land is wanted for settlement, he proposes the Government should take it up under the Land Act, after its value has been ascertained by an impartial tribunal. If the Maoris would not voluntarily sell the land then settlement should proceed, and the division of the money would take place when the natives had ascertained their titles. The scheme is a bold one, but whether it would be

workable, even as a temporary measure, is not so clear. Tbe Government, however, are determined not to palter, but either in this or some other way to effectually throw open the lands for settlement. The importance to Auckland of solving the native land problem cannot be over estimated. Meanwhile, it is encouraging to know that, notwithstanding the difficulties the Government have to face, land settlement is being pushed forward with all speed. In this provincial district alone the selectors last, year numbered 674 as against 327 the previous year, and although 143,594 acres were disposed of last year, there are at present in round numbers 30,000 acres more open for selection than in 1891 when the present Ministry took office.