FACING THE QUESTION.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 54, 15 October 1887, Page 2

FACING THE QUESTION.

THE PUBLIC MEETING. On Thursday evening a public meeting was held in McFarlane’s Hall to consider the advisability of impressing upon Parliament the necessity for the throwing open for settlement ot the Crown and Native lands oh the East Coast. The weather was very unfavorable, but there was a good representative meeting, The Mayor (Major Porter) took the chair, and after explaining the objects of the meeting, said that we required to unite in the most strenuous efforts to obtain an influx of population and settlement upon our lands—the waste lands should be thrown open and no longer left unutilised. This was a critical time in politics and also dn opportune dne, and by setting aside all party feeling, uniting together as a district, he felt certain we would get what was essential to the vitality of the district, the opening up of the lands. We had now upwards of three million acres, divisab'.e in this way—409,900 acres Crown land, which cost the Government something less than a hundred thousand pounds in expenses. This ought to be worth about half a million. He could not understand why that was not realised. Then there were over two millions of native land, the actual European occupancy of which he did not believe was more that 150,000 acids. Cook County was even now running 141,221 sheep more than all the rest ot the province of Auckland. The Sheep Inspector had reported that in a few years’ time this district would be capable of grazing two million sheep, still leaving room for the rearing of Cattle and general agricultural work. The official map showed that the whole of Cook County was marked in the color representing first-class pastoral land, together with agricultural land. This proved that the district could sustain a large population in comfort, and offered facilities for settlement, if the land were thrown open, better than any other part of the colony, He would move—

" That the East Coast distriet, containing upwards of three millions of acres of firstclass pastoral and agricultural land, together with a fine climate, is calculated to sustain a large population in comfort, aud offers greater facilities for settlement than any othsr part of the colony.”

Mr Ratcliffe seconded.—Carried unani. mously. Mr C. Smith said he had lived in the district fourteen years, and every successive Government had neglected the place in the most singular manner, aud they should speak out in plain and emphatic language. If the same treatment had been dealt out to any other place in New Zealand or Her Majesty’s possession, they could not sit down quietly, but there had been instances when people had refused to pay their rates. "Ve could count in thousands all we had got out of 35 millions. The district was now depressed through the lands being tied up, and the cry about landsharks was simply got up by South Island members. On some lands the Government had now lost more interest than the whole value of the lands. We should demand our rights, and not go to the Government as beggars. If settlers came here now they could not get land because there was none available, He had pleasure in proposing,

That this dis riot has been hitherto systematically neglected by the Gore nment of the Colony* That by reason of our isolated position we have reoived practically no benefit from the expenditure of the large amount of borrowed money rpont in railways, pub ic works, &o , in other parts of the Colony. That we are buffering at the present time a most aeridus depression, from the fact that our Crown aud Native.lands are tied up, That the interest paid on Crown land, here, paid ten years ego, already amounts to more ■than the original price of the lands. That in comriion fairness this district has a powerful claim to generous consideration oh the port of the Government.

That this meeting ia of opinion that it ia absolutely necessity for the progress of thia district, and the benefit of the Colony generally, that the Government throw open for immediate settlement on the easiest poisible terms, and most favorable conditions, the large and valuable areas of Crown and Native lands in C<ok County.

Mr Joyce seconded. It was quite unnecessary for him to speak at length, and he had no doubt every sentiment expressed in the resolution was perfectly true. But if they ever wished to get anything from the Government they should remember the quotation, " Ask and ye shall receive.” (Applause.) Mt BievWriglit proposed, " That to relieve the present depression and to ensure future prosperity to the district it is absolutely necessary to obtain a large increase in the Dumber of our settlers ; and that the inco niug colonists shall be of the right material, and accompanied by sufficient capital. That the present condltion of things in Great Britian" indicates the probability of a great colonisation movement, which if directed to this part of New, Ziaiand would ensure local prosperity, and be a areat benefit to the colony,” The key-note seemed to be that they should have settlers of the right material on the land —with willing hands and strength and money if they had it. There was a depression in New Zealand, but it was nothing to what wlte axperieuced in lhe old country—what was eoni sidered poverty heie would ba thought conifort in many places, Those who studied the signs of the times could see that public opinion at Home was gradually coming round to favor State Colonisation, and he believed union in this colony might result in a splendid movement for its colonisation, and, speaking from our point of view, this district would participate. We only wanted to act with one act and one mind, and this would be accomplished. (Applause.) Mr Maude thought we were going on very nicely, but at the same time we wanted some one to come here and share our Garden of Eden. He was one of those who grumbled at having to pay harbour rates now, but he would willingly have paid £l5O down before it was started so as to get it gone on with. He came here as an unemployed and he told them frankly he would never meet hard work again as long as he lived. (Laughter.) He believed we would have good times yet, and that lots of people would join us. It whenMr Rees went home he could not say something good, none of them could. He was impressed that every man he induced to oome here was having a good thing put in his way —no place that he knew of was a patch on it. (Laughter and applause.) He would second the motion.

Mr Rees—(applause)— said the motion was of very great importance to the district and to the colony. With an increased number of people owning land, the ratepayers’ shoulders would be broadened and the burdens would be lightened, and if the lands were opened up we could induce settlers without holding out false prospects—the suitability of the climate, its accessibility to the sea, and all circumstances fitted it as a dwelling-place for men. It was a district to which men might fairly be asked to oome. II we were taking interested grounds they were at any rate just, because it we could offer advantages to people to oome here they were not likely to grumble if their presence were found to be a benefit to us. The very life-blood of the colony was being drawn out of it by excessive taxation. This could only be remedied by increasing our products. The proposition was not to put a number of people on the labor market to compete with those who had now to earn their bread, but to bring people not only morally fit, but able to become good settlers and bringing with them sufficient capital to enable them to give employment to others as well as to themselves. On this system there would be no want of employment. By rapid increase in population and settlement we could overtake the public b'urdens. Although we might ask for the opening of Crown and native lands there was not sufficient population to settle them. See the increase in the value of the land which an industrious population made. All party feeling should be put aside in this matter, and all unite for the general good. He was glad to see that Mr Graham was becoming so prominent in Wellington, and that in the speech to which Mi Graham had to move lhe reply the land question was considered more important than that of retrenchment—one was au affirmative question and the other a negative. The latte* would not increase the wealth of the country’ He believed Mr Graham’s views on land matters would meet with a very heartj

vaj. v.»-1 - r'sMfctat response. (Applause.) He believed the Go. vernment would take up and support the development of the immense resources of the country, and if they did he hoped they would live to see it successfully carried.but, rhe present depression in agriculture in England might be taken advantage of, and this district could ba turned into a garden of in. dustry. We had the land ana the climate, and at Home they had thb people and the money. The English Government were in* dined to favor a colonising scheme, and the first colony that stepped forward would reatt a golden harvest—they could get the pitffi of the best population in England. Let this bs the first colony and this the first distriot to welcome such men, (Loud applause,) The resolution was carried unanimously, Mr Gannon fully agreed with the remarks of the Mayor and Mr Bees, ths present was an opportune time. He believed our reprised* lative would do his best for the district HO moved—

That the Government snd Parliament of New Zealand,irrespective of politic >1 parties, be earnestly requested to aid in the develop, meet and settlement of this naturally rich list riot, and for that purpose to take non Steps as will lead to the immediate opening up and the speedy settlement of the Crown and Native lands in this distriot.

Mr Whinray seconded, and tbs resolution was carried unanimously, Mr Breingan asked the Chairifiln In Wfaai way the lands were to be opened up—when! were the lands, aiid tvhat was their value 7 Two propositions were made aS to the best way to give effect to the views of the meeting; The Mayor proposed that a deputation < f five should gu down to Wel'ington—a representative of each of the local bodies and two from the outside public, to pay their own ex< penses. Mr D< Liutour did not think a deputation necessary, but if this were the Opinion of thg meet ng he thought two wfluld be it would be a month before the local bbdiei would be able to decide upon action. After some discussion it was resolved that the Mayor and Mr Rees should be appointed delegates to represent the general public, and that the Councils and Harbor Board should be left to adopt what course they think proper; It was resolved to telegraph the tenor of the resolutions to Mr Graham and to tbs Government, and the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman,