The Land Question.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 382, 26 November 1889, Page 2

The Land Question.

[TO THE EDITOB.I

Sin,—Would yon kindly publish ths following questions , as put to Mr Bess at his late meeting, as your report does not give them in full?—

1. Do you favor the leasing o( Crown Lands under the perpetual lease system instead of selling them ? If so—2. Would you advocate the repurchasing by Government as favorable opportunities arise, of large estates when suitable for settlement under that system ? 8. Do you consider Mr Ballance's village settlement scheme better for the colony than allowing the unemployed to leave it, or assisting such poor by charitable aid, or starting ordinary relief works for them?

I understand the answer to each question was in the affirmative. Many things indicate that the perpetual lease will be the favorite tenure of the future. The success of many of the village settlements shows that it is adapted for small holdings, and the numerous applications for larger areas all over the colony show that colonists are becoming well aware of its advantages. It would be unwise to advocate that the State should again secure possession o! the large private estates only to part with them again, and as the necessities ot the colony would be sure to require the repurchase ot these lands at some future time, history should not be allowed to repeat itself here in that manner. Our legislators might learn from other countries the dangers resulting from private ownership of large estates: they are learning, but slowly; verv slowly. They want hurrying up badly. Considering the settlement of this country only dates back fifty years, some of the evils of the old countries have got a pretty good footing already. The following figures, as a comparative statement quoted by Sir George Grey at one of his meetings a few years ago, will throw a little light on this matter. And such are interesting at this juncture, as the Irish delegates are here, having come all this distance to raise money for the evicted tenants in Ireland, and to tell us of their troublee chiefly caused by landlordism in their country (though it is well known things are just about as bad in England and Scotland). At the same time we in this new country, not profiting by their experience, have allowed the foundation to be laid for the same evils, as these figures plainly show:—'i Persons owning over 10,000 acres —135 in Ireland, 259 in New Zealand ; owning over 20,000 acres—9o in Ireland, 118 in New Zealand; owning over 50,000 acres—--30 in Ireland, 36 in New Zealand ; owning over 100,000 acres—3 in Ireland, 7in New Zealand. In Ireland 292 ot the largest landholders hold 6,458.100 acres, giving an average of 22,117 acres; in New Zealand 250 of the largest holders hold 6,678,000 acres, giving an aveyage of acres.” I think enough has been said to indicate that if the colony can again secure and then retain the title to at least some of these large estates, and throw them °P en f ot ona f l^e settlement in smaller areas under the perpetual leqse system, it will be admitted that an attempt has been made by our rulers to profit by the experiences ot the older countries.—l am, etc., J, Bigley.