The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1894.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 229, 25 September 1894, Page 4

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

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1894.

for the causa that laokt a__i_tan.3, __ For the wrong that aeedfl resistance, |j^ For .the fatur. in t_i» dirtaics, if And the good that vr» e«n dt...«r'; ''' • 4f-ie

A new Land Bill of a.very important character was submitted a few days ago to the Parliament of New South Wales. The immediate cause of this comprehensive measure being framed originated in a difficulty that has arisen in connection with what are known as the Central Division leaseholds, and ithe Bill,' if adopted, will, to a great extent, revolutionise the land laws of that colony. In the Central Division a vast area of pastoral country is comprised, and as the leases shortly fall in, the question of renewal to the.Grown tenants has been for some time past a burning one. As is usual in cases where class interests are involved, a good deal of bitterness has been infused into the controversy. It is unfortunate - that the terms under which free selection was. introduced into New South Wales were such as to place squatters and selectors in a position of an_2.g9p.sm. to.,fi£et|olhefc In the present instance-the squatters, who, as a class,, ■ view, selectors of all kinds with disfavour, are .chiefly concerned to obtain an unrestricted renewal of their leases. On the other hand, the small settlers and intending selectors would like to see the whole of the Central Division leaseholds subdivided into small holdings, to meet the requirements of men with very limited capital.

On the general question of the necessity that exists for amending the land laws of New South Wales there is hardly room for difference of opinion. In introducing the Bill the fton,. 'J. H. Carruthers, the Minister for Lands, gave a graphic description of the evils that abound under the present system. So far from inducing settlement in the country, it has forced people into the towns. In 1861, when the system of free selection before survey was adopted, there were 159,834 residents in the towns, and 189,116 residents in the country districts. After more than thirty years trial of the present land system, there are 730,019 residents in the town, as against only 388,321 residents in the country districts. In 1861 the number of holdings in, the country was represented by 15^650 occupants, while today the • holdings ait; represented by 41,400 occupants. In the.meantime the absorption of the public estate has proceeded rapidly. Since 1861 the enormous■-. area of about 50,000,000 acres of land has been alienated for an increase of only 25,750 occupiers.

The Bill aims at securing not the interests of one class, but at making provision for pastoralists, small graziers arid agriculturalists. : The Government resists the demand for the general determination of the leasehold system, but proposes to clip the squatters' wings considerably. It has been decided by the Supreme, Court that under the existing Act the pastoralists, in consideration of improvements effected, are entitled to an extension of their present leases. The Minister for Lands recognises this right, and proposes: to provide land, for settlement by withdrawing ~ from pastoral leaseholds in the Central Division portions not less than one-eighth or more than one-half of their area. To compensate the lessee whose estate is thus.cut down, Mr Carruthers proposes that he shall have an extended lease of the unresumed portion proportioned authentically to the area withdrawn. Thus if the Crown resumed possession of half a holding of 60,000 acres, having five years' lease to run, the lessee would receive a ten years' lease of the unresumed portion, by way of compensation for the 30,000 acres taken from him.

While providing for the large runholders, the Minister for Lands, has not been unmindful of a class whose interests have been often overlooked. Midway between the small cockatoo settler and the wealthy landed magnate therei are many persons of moderate capital who wish "to embark in sheepfarming on a modest scale. They would like to secure land on which they could run from 1,000 to 30,000 sheep.

Hitherto, there have been great difficulties in the way of increasing this important* section of middle-class graziers. 'The Bill provides that tracts of land may be set apart for " settlement leases," not exceeding 1,280 acres for agriculture and 10,240 for grazing purposes. The term of lease is to be 28 years; Conditions are made as to residence and improvements, and the rent is to be i^. per. cent, on the capital value of the holding.

It is in providing land oh such terms as to induce the settlement of men with very little means that the greatest difficulty is always experienced by statesmen. Mr Carruthers has adopted the example of Canada,.; and proposes to institute what is known as the '• homestead system," He claims that by this scheme a man obtains the benefit of a freehold, while the incidence ""and obligations of perpetual lease are retained. Briefly put, the system is as follows:_ An area of land will be subdivided: into blocks, ranging from 1,280 acres downwards, at a minimum value of los per.acre. The settler is required to .reside five years on th,e land before he can transfer it, and the condition of residence remains a "perpetual Obligation "* on the -person to whom the land is transferred or his representative. The conditions of tenure are thus laid down in the Bill: —

For the first five years the. land will be Subject to a rent of 3d in the f, payablefin half-yearly instalments. Half a year's rent, with the whole, or'one-third, of the survey, fee (according to the selector's option), mußt be deposited at the time of ap: plication. The balance of survey fee will be payable by instalments within three years from date of application. The value of improvement will be payable in Hbree annual instalments, with 5 per cent, interest. Within the first eighteen'months a dwelling-house worth £50 has to be erected, and afterwards maintained. After the firsb five years a grant will issue withous payment of any purchase money, and on issue of the grant the land will be subject to a perpetual annual payment) of £310a ia e very£loo.

The Bill contains a number of provisions as to classification and survey of 'land, and conditions under which homestead selections may be obtained without personal residence. This provision^ designed to meet the wants of persons who arc in business, but would like to secure a homestead for a later portion of; their life. The Bill has been favourably received both in Parliament and throughout the country. There is a general opinion that it is an honest and unbiassed attempt to do justice to every class. The. progress of the measure is sure to be watched with considerable interest at a time ,when every Australasian colony is eagerly trying to" solve the land problem.