THE TRIALS OF THE LAND-SEEKER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1166, 17 June 1911, Page 7

THE TRIALS OF THE LAND-SEEKER.

AND THE "DUMMY" SPECULATOK. Sir,—Having travelled considerably throughout this .legislature-laden Dominion, in search of land, 1 would esteem it a favour if you will permit mo to make some obiervations anent the administration of the Land Act by the various land boards of the Dominion— they are much alike, it seems to mo. One hears a great deal about landless applicants and practical farmers being allowed preference. The various commissioners invariably deliver an address to the assembled applicants in which the rigorous measures that are to bo taken to weed out the speculator are impressed on those present. The conditions appertaining to compulsory residence arc stressed in so forcible a manner as to lead one to believe that the individual, and his name is legion, who, despite the declaration which he signs when he makes application, has not the remotest intention of, and in many instances never does, comply with the conditions regarding residence, is absolutely debarred from holding a section. But in actual practice experience has shown that quite the reverse is the case. The compulsory residence conditions are ignored and transfer easily' obtained, with the result that prosperous business men, probably resident in some centre of population, quite remote from the locality in which the section is situated, are enabled to carry oat what they set out to do in the first instance, viz., to burk their responsibilities under tho Land Act, and add to their already comfortable circumstances, without suffering any persona! inconvenience beyond the expenditure of a few hundreds of pounds which they are well abio to afford for so profitable an investment.

Another dodge is worked when two members of one family are fortunato enough to draw adjoining or adjacent sections, say two brothers, or father and son, as tho case may be. One of the holders may be a farmer, the other, perhaps, a business or a professional man. The former goes and works both sections and the latter finds some cash, but does not make any pretence of residing and probably never even sees his section. Where does the compulsory residence como in in au instance such as this? It is absolutely a dead letter. After a lapse of time the Land Board is approached with a view of obtaining a transfer either from the business man to his farmer relative ur probably from both to a purchaser. The. transfer goes through, and tho dummy goes on his way rcjoicincr, to repeat the performance at the earliest opportunity. And while this kind of thine is being allowed to go en genuine settlers are spending time and money in following up land ballots, in the hope of drawing a section, and in Ihe end are forced to put money into tho pocket of some dummy or go without a section, there beina not sufficient sections to go rouiuT.

1 came across a flagrant instance of the double holding dodge- in Ihe Stratford electorate the other clay flourishing successfully under the now of a orominent member of the Tnranaki Land Hoard. No doubt (he transfer and the attendant projit will nonpar in clue course. —I am. etc., UNSUCCESSFUL TN T EIGITT BALLOTS. Marton, June 1.1, 1011.