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Evening Star, Issue 12626, 4 October 1905, Page 4

The Premier spoke oat with salutary plainness on the question of Land closer settlement yesterday SetUmaot. afternoon. It cannot be too dearly recognised that there is a reactionary parry who would gladly restrict or even block the enterprise of the Government in the direction of providing tor the earth-hunger, as it is called, in Central Otago and elsewhere; and reactionary sentiment never tails to find expression when the Land Question in any form comes up for discission in Parliament. The Opposition frankly wish to arrest the tendency towards democratic conditiona of laud ten-are, and the significance of Mr Massey's attitude was made wore obvious than ever in some of the remarks which, he made in the House yesterday. The Premier commented upon the insidious practice of subdividing large estates between the members of a family in order to prevent resumption and to avoid the Graduated Tax; whereupon the Leader of the Opposition observed; " They are quite within their rights." At a later stage of the discussion Mr Mousey elaborated his views in defence of the practice. To do- hrm justice, he does not disguise his opinions. He openly supports the old Tory doctrines of monopoly and privilege, and tho electors are not left in doubt as to what the success l of the Conservative party neat month will mean. It will mean, in regard to many questions (and the Land Question in particular), a reversion to principles which New Zealand was supposed to have abandoned and disowned; and there would be relief , and joy in the ranks of the privileged and I the selfish. We are glad to have the Pre- | inier's assurance that the policy of throwing I open suitable runs in Oantral Otago is to | be persevered with, and that the Government are not forgetting the late Sir John | M r Kenzie'» desires and intentions. At the saine time there should be no Injustice and no inconsiderate haste. Mr W. Fraaer aptly urges that the cutting up of the runs should bo entrusted to practical men —" otherwise the good land might be all "taken and large areas of the higher " country left valueless in the hands of the "Government." The Minister of Lands also dwelt on tho necessity of making the low country take a fair proportion of high country with it, fo to speak. This is imperative, unless the whole enterprise of land resumption in Central Otago is to be abortive. Moreover, the mnholders must not be treated with undue harshness. The land mw»t not be takan in such • way M will

make it practically impossible for the holders to occupy and work their remaining areas. A case in point is referred to in a letter from the Under-Secretary for Lands which was read by Mr Herdman in the House yesterday. The Blackstone Hill runs are resumable si tbe present time, but the Commissioner of Crown Lands and the Land Board are of opinion that the holders could not be deprived of them without injustice, as they would be unable to work the area of high and mountainous country which they occnpy in the vicinity. The Premier challenges this. conclusion, and thjnfea -&a& it -wo*xld tke better to take tho | high country (for which a small rent is paid) as well as the Blackstone Hill land. 1 It seems that the Government cannot resume pastoral leases for purposes of closer settlement until they have lapsed by effluxion of time, though Mr Herdman observed yesterday that a contrary notion had prevailed. Tbe tone of the Premier's speech indicates that the Government do not intend to allow themselves to be hindered by difficulties wnich are not insuperable; and this ia well, for the matter, as Mr Seddon says, is of great moment The young men of Central Otago are waiting for opportunities of taking up land—hoping against hope—and it must be admitted that the report presented by the Land Committee yesterday is by no means reassuring. It is the duty of the Government to strain every nerve to satisfy these legitimate aspirations, and to pursue their policy of purchase and resumption alike with vigor and cautious sagacity.