MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1893.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 251, 23 October 1893, Page 4

MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1893.

One of the most striking facts in con. nection with the development of colonial resources is the rapid change that has passed over the public mind respecting the importance of settling the people on the land. In this colony the Land Act, for which we are indebted to the Hon. Mr Mackenzie, has given an opportunity of acquiring holdings to thousands of persons who, under the old system, would have had no option but to swell the already too numerous army of workers in the towns, and thS good effect of the land policy adopted by the Ballance-Seddon Government, is shown by the fact that at the present time settlement is going on in the country districts at an unprecedented rate. The Governments of the Australian colonies are as fully alive as our own to the importance of this question. The financial crisis through which they are passing has led everyone to recognise that it is absolutely necessary to relieve the congested population of the large towns. On every side the cry has been raised,' " Settle the people on the land," and all kinds of schemes, some of them of the wildest and most impracticable nature, have been thrust forward by would-be social reformers. There seems to be a danger in the neighbouring colonies that in their eagerness to find a way out of the difficulty, Ministers will be hurried into sanctioning schemes of settlement which will eventually prove embarrassing to the Government and a source of disappointment to the people concerned.

In New South Wales, for example, the Labour Settlement Act was passed to provide immediate employment on the land of the State for persons unable to find work (or themselves. Under the provisions of the Act what is known as the Pitt Town Co-operative Settlement was formed a few months ago. This Socialistic experiment has attracted a good deal of attention. The scheme looked admirable on paper, but it seems to have been entered into with a disregard of some practical considerations with regard to the character of the soil and water supply that evince a lamentable want of judgment. The site chosen for the experiment is a reserve of land in the Hawkesbury district, some 35 miles from Sydney. The Government placed 2,100 acres of this land in the hands of a Board of Control, and agreed to lend to this Board for each married settler with a family, for each married couple, and for every single man. As the intending settlers were entirely of the impecunious class the terms were made as easy as possible. The land was leasehold for 28 years, with the option of renewal. For the first four years no charge would be made, but after that time a small rent would be exacted along with the repayment of the money advanced. In order to supplement the funds from the Treasury chest, it was hoped that assistance would be forthcoming in the shape of public subscriptions.

The cooperative colony was to be regulated by principles which, however plausible in theory, are found to be difficult to carry out in real' life. It is surprising how many people imagine that the virtues which so often fail mankind, even under the most favourable circumstances, will be displayed in their fullness by a number of men and women who have hitherto failed in life's battle, and are commencing the struggle afresh under somewhat depressing conditions. One of the rules laid down was that each man was to give 48 hours per week for the good oi the commune, and that no division of profit was to be made till every individual in the community had been provided for. It is evident that such a system opens the way for endless disputes. The active willing worker will soon grow restless at being placed on the same level with the man who does the Government stroke, and we are afraid that even the understanding that H the dominant spirit of the community was to be that of equality and brotherly love" will not be found sufficient to check the selfishness of human nature.

But apart from abstract considerations there are some very material difficulties that are likely to seriously affect the progress of the settlement The Minister of Lands recently paid a visit to the new colony, which already has a population, including women and children, of over 430 souls. The object of the Ministerial visit was to see the first furrow turned with the communal plough. Two facts were then noted by a visitor which seemed to have been entirely overlooked by the Government. In the first place the land is of inferior quality*—a serious consideration for a number of men who wish to make a living by agriculture; but there is a still greater drawback. The settlement is dependent for its water supply on a rude water hole, which is filled by the soakage from the surrounding bills. The water is described as " crowded with embryonic frogs, worms, and water-beetles." This inviting fluid is further said to be of a strong yellowish hue, something like

the syrupy drinks supplied at Sundayschool picnics. Since the fact was brought to the attention of the authorities, the Government geologist has been instructed to see what prospect there is of obtaining artesian water, but from the geological formation the chances of success seem very remote. As the nearest permanent water supply is three miles distant, it is quite evident that unless a supply can be obtained by boring, the reserve will be useless for the purposes of a settlement. Every well-wisher to the prosperity of these colonies must desire to see people placed on the land under conditions which give a reasonable expectation that they will secure a livelihood, but whatever opinion may be held as to the feasibility of accomplishing this by communistic means there can be no doubt that unless the land chosen is suitable in point of soil and water supply, the result can only be failure. Ministers in New South Wales have apparently overlooked these important considerations, and are likely to be put to considerable cost in rectifying the mistake they have made.