The Unemployed and the Settlement of the land.

Evening Star, Issue 8483, 7 April 1891, Page 4

The Unemployed and the Settlement of the land.

The Hon. J. M'Kenzle was waited on at Lyttelton by a deputation representing a number of men in Lyttelton who were anxious to leave the place, provided they could make sure of obtaining sufficient land undor reasonable conditions to afford them a prospect of keeping their wives and families.

Ihe Minister is reported by the ' Lyttelton Times' to have replied that the association system was intended for a number of settlers being brought together, bo that they could enjoy the benefits of a school, post office, and other conveniences; but if twanty-five men could not be got together, did they not think that they could manage to take up land under the village settlement system, where each man applying could take up fifty acres ? In the case of men with sons, and even daughters, the law provided for each, as long as they were actual settlers on bhe land, taking fifty acres. Under that condition a man with four children over the ago of seventeen could, under certain conditions, take up 250 acres, and his (the Minister's) opinion was that they would find that quite sufficient to work, for a while at least. Under this system LlO was allowed to the settler when he had erected his house.

Another member of the deputation pointed out that the chances of a bona fide settler getting a section against the large amount of dummy entries was very small. The Minister replied that he was quite aware that dummyism on a large scale had been praotised in the past, but that he hoped next session to have the law so amended that duplicate entries would almost be impossible. With regard to the association system, he had agreed to pay the passage of one or two members of any association to the nearest port to where they wished to take up land, so that they would be able to ascertain its quality before going to any expense. The present Government |were anxious in every way to promote bona fide settlement. To the question of whether there was any suitable land in Canterbury, the Minister Baid that at the present time there was very little, but he intended during the next session to endeavor to exchange pastoral land for agricultural land with the Education Department. The Board in Canterbury were not altogether opposed to the suggestion, and he had arranged with them to lease a quantity of land for twelve months only, so that if Parliament agreed with the suggestion it would be available next year; Then, again, there were 1,500 acres of good land in the Waimate-Timaru district which also belonged to the Crown; but he had arranged for Mr March to visit the North Island and collect all the information with regard to the land open for settlement there. When he returned he would be able to uupply the particulars to anyone requiring them ; but he (the Minister) would strongly advise them not to take up more land than they could successfully work, for he would remind them that under the perpetual lease system they could at any time sell out, or, if convenient, enlarge their present holding.