"HEARTS LIKE LIONS."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1245, 29 September 1911, Page 5

"HEARTS LIKE LIONS."

OUR BACK-BLOCK SETTLERS. LAND BOARD HEYIKWS A BALLOT HATTER. A matter of great interest to Tjackblock settlers was discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Land Board. Mr. 11. T. Ellingham said that a short time a?;o a ballot had been held at Marton for land in the South Waimaritio (Morinui block). 'J'ho hoard had decided to throw (ho land open at tho present valuation with the full benefit of tho liash and Swamps Act, which nives four years' exemption from rent.. The board's recommendation luid gone to tho power above, and when tlie lithograph plan appeared with the conditions printed thereon, it was found Chat tho period of exemption lrad been fixed at two years. This alteration had been made without the plan ot the conditions Muz submitted to tho board before being issued to the public. Tho boi'.rd had interviewed tile Minister for Lands (Sir Joseph Ward) and had placed the position before him, and urged tlie passage of tlie Bill which had been introduced io Parliament in behalf of the Kaiticke settlers. Mr. 35-11-ingliam protested against t'ho "loading of tho roads," and said the board had 110 control in the expenditure of the money. The valuation of tho land ho was referring to had been made by a valuer who cxpected that tho period of exemption would bo four years. Had tho valuer known tho period was to be only two years ho would have assessed tho valuo 10s. per aero less.' Where the inconsistency came in was tliat as members of tho board they had gone out and investigated the whole matter, and then some powers above had co-mo and undone what they had done. If the members of tho board were not capable they should not be there, and tlicy were only wasting money going round the country. It was questionable if the board wero justified in letting the settlers ballot for tho land under such conditions. And yet what could they do? Somo of the men who wero at that ballot wore among the finest settlers in the country—men with hearts like lions; me.n game to go and tackle that bush with only a few pounds. One man had been asked what means ho had, and had replied; "Two hands."

Mr. J. Dawson objected to the fact that "the bead of tho Department: had not got control of roads and bridges." If the control lay in tho proper quarter, one-third of tho nioney could bo eiivcd— that could be saved on bridges alono. Mr. James Georgctti and Mr. William M'Lennan agreed with the previous speakers. Mr. M'Lennan said bo bad been astonished when the posters had come out giving the period as two years instead of four years. He suggested that something should be done, regarding the loading of tho roads, to tide tho settlers over tho troublesome first four years. The Commissioner said bo would remind members of tho board that ihe llush md Swamps Act was purely a Governor's function, and not the function cf the board. The bringing of lands under this Act was to be considered more from iv Dominion standpoint than from a local standpoint. A Bill for the relief of the Kaitieko settlers had been drafted, and they had been told it had been very favourably considered. Ho thought that more than was being dono could not be expected in a session liko tho present. Mr. Ellingham had questioned tho wisdom of allowing men with small capital to go 011 the' land. Some of the best settlers were men with small means. Mr. Ellingham: "Quite true." Tho Commissioner, continuing, said that if a man was genuine, and bona fide, and knew something about farming and bushfelling, hs had a chance of getting on. He had not any fear for these settlers. They would go through the troubles of tho early years of all back-block settlers, but bo thought they would succccd in tho end.