BURNT-OUT SETTLERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 46, 24 February 1908, Page 6

BURNT-OUT SETTLERS.

Wo are glad that the Government has decided to aid settlers who have suffered by the rccont bush fires. Tho Premier issued a memorandum stating that grass seed will be supplied to all concerned — whether Crown lessees, freeholders, or private leaseholders. Up to four ycais will be allowed for payment, and no interest will bo charged on tho debt. To Fettloiv. absolutely unable to pay tho debt will be forgiven. For a::y who havp lost homes, outhouses, o' fencing tlio railways will carry ue: material free. In other cases, such as those of men "working on roads who may have lost their homes, huts, tools or belongings, the Government will convey all material and tools free to them by rail, and ir absolutely necessitous cases" will help thorn further. Tho memorandum goes on to say that officers of the Lands Department will report upon all applications in order to prevent imposition or fraud, and concludes with the expression of an ingenuous hope that holders of grass seed, now they know that Government 13 in the market as a wholesale purchaser, will not raise- the price beyond a fair thing in the circumstances. And what is fair in tho circumstances is such an elastic quantity the" 1 we have no doubt the holders oi grot,

seed will cheerfully agree The difficulty i<s that a seller's notion of a fair thing is often strangely opposed to a buyer's. We bavo admitted tho expediency of tlio Government's action — up to a certain point and v.ith definite limitations. Where the ehoii-u is between letting land ro out of grass or cultivation, and backing ruined sstllcrs with the community's credit, than wo should back the settler. But only by compulsion, and as the lesser of two evils. For the work involved is work which Government is characteristically unfitted to do. Since ifc is not proposed to take n lien on tho land, tho business amounts to lending money without security. There is not even always the security of personal character, for the loan must be made to those who need it, without distinction — and prob. ably to somo who do not need it. We place reliance on tho settlers' character; and we dare say that in four years Gov. eminent will get 75 per cent, of its money back. The balance of 25 per cent., if that should be lost ; and the interest on the investment ; and the cost of distribution ancl administration ; \ve should be prepared to give in the present circumstances. But always doubtfully and experimentally. The precedent may easily set up a bad practice. The policy is not a : just policy to the whole community ; for a hundred cases of undeserved hardship occur every week to ! deserving people, and the spectacular size of a great calamity does not affect i tho equal claim of the sufferers by life- ! tic calamities that are not advertised jn I the newspapers. On the other hand, the progress of land settlement is vital to the community ; and in the present condition of the country occasional losses j by fire cannot well be prevented by any man's own effort. No doubt there are specific cases in which the Government j aid will give a ruined man new courage, and preservo his energy for the general I good ." Still, when Parliament meets, and yearly thereafter, we would like to see a detailed statement of amounts lent and amounts given, specifying persons and claims briefly, and adding the terms of repayment if any. The community can tako only a certain margin of risk. If, for example, the loss is to be £10,000, then in the circumstances that misht be judged a fair loss; if ifc ie to "be £100,000, that might be judged too heavy a price to pay for tho whistle. The ruined settler, after all, may be no Worse off than the new settler to whom the Government does not supply grass seed on credit; and, other things being equal, if Itho policy is good in one case it is good in the other. If tho matter were not urgent, we should recommend seeking the voluntary co-operation of local residents or loral authorities in each district : they best know .each man's needs and can judge each man's claims. No Government agent can do the work well. If he has the local knowledge, he is still between tho devil and the deep sea, and has to take an applicant's word in cirdor to save his own official bacon. Naturally, in nine cases out of ten, when there is money to spend, he spends it and is agreoable. Everybody is satisfied, and Government can exercise no proper control, lie is not in tho position of a Bank inspector, with every investment rigorously checked; and the Ministerial head is not inclined to criticise too sharply tho agent who wins over a Ministerial supporter. The fires are a bad business, and we believe that Government aid is making the, best of them. But every step is fraught with danger of loss, danger of injustice, dangor to individua' self-re-liance—that mainspring of the energy and prosperity of the State.