VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 30, 4 August 1881, Page 2

VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS.

To the artisan, the tradesman, and the saving working man in this colony, th 9 question cf establishing village settlements possesses the highest practical interest, 'ihe system of village settlements came into operation in, New Zealand on Ist January last, and has already made satisfactory progress. During tho past year 259 persona have taken up 2095 acres on thiß system, and the majority of those settlers are now living on their small holdings. As the name implies, a village settlement ia a group of

amall holdings, from five to tea acres each, which become the abodes of country tradesmen and the homesteads of men who do fencing, harvesting, roadmaking, and other conntry work. The land is taken up on the suburban deferred payments system, the payments extend over fire jears, and improvements to the value of J6lO an acre have to be made by the sslector in each case. The occupation of each holding as the home of the selector is compulsory. As each settler can only have one section, it is obvious that all '"land grabbing" for purposes of specula' ion is rendered impossible. The price required for the sections rangeß from .£5 to i5lO per acre. Working men who live in the large cities of the colony should direct their earnest attention to the system by means of which they obtain freehold homes for themselves and families. It is a Eeriou3 evil that so many working men should remain in the large cites, often choking up the labor market, when they would have a far widely scops for their exertions in some of the country districts, besides the opportunity of acquiring a permanent home of their o*Wn. A working man taking up a section in a village settlement would work for wages as employment could be found, and utilise the test of his time in improving hi 3 holding. Some of thoae village settlements have been established on the Waimate Plains, the land being of splendid quality, and there are still sections open for selection. All over tne colony reserves have been made for th's purpose, and at the present moment there is an aggregate of 1362 sec ion 3 from i to 50 acres Bach, open for selection under the system in the various land districts throughout the North and South Islands. A plan which will help to populate the country districts of the colony with thrifty and industrious settlers, claims our best wishe3 for its success. Under such a system tho daylaborer would soon become a freeholder, and feel himself an independent man , with a stake in the country, and with a fair prospect, by thrift and industry, of securing a modest competence for himself and his family.