THE H.B. TRIBUNE. THURSDAY, FEB. 23, 1911. LAND SETTLEMENT FINANCE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 62, 23 February 1911, Page 5

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. THURSDAY, FEB. 23, 1911. LAND SETTLEMENT FINANCE.

Bff the last meeting of the Hastings tnanch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union Mr. Lane brought up the question of land settlement, «nd eo"***" d«»d that it waa not progressing as fast as it should do in Hawke's Bay. In introducing the subject/he said he did not believe in penalising the large landowners in any way, nor in setting up the small farmer against the large farmer. Thus far his views are likely to be. in agreement with those of political sections, because all weeognise that land settlement is lhe primary element of progress; 3hat to penalise one class is to Ayi— fee one class, and tyranny is I am undemocratic weapon. Mr. lane’s mention of disbelief in setting up small farmer against large farmer is silly in view of the sound minded common sense men who comprise the small and large farmer community. Mr. Lane says a scheme should be devised for land

bettlement so. that they couM provide land for the landless. As a candidate for political work Mr. Xane should be able to outline come sensible scheme for this purpose. Can ho do sof We thought that tile Land Settlement Finance of last session possessed poesiIWBies very nrarik in advance of atnyland acquiring system yet placgti upon the Statute Book. But! Hr. Lane says he does not approve gf it. Why not! He does not gtoto his reason. * We- understood Oaft tins System was to - promote tike closer settlement he says is so alow in coming to Hawke’s Bay. Share is ho tyranny in. the'Act. It 4foes not compel «landless man to Sngr or a landed man to selL. It Mersey provides a way to a voluntary arrangement between buyer and adler. Is this not what iq .wanted I Which clause in the Act Wtmeeab the stumbling block! It ia supposed to unable groups of pcoFehaasrs to Buy private freehold) property for subdivision among them, and to raise the purchasemoney by means'of a loan guaranteed by the Government. The method is for any five or more persons to agree to form an incbrpovated land settlement association to purchase in the name of that! -association any estate of not less! than 250 acres. The agreement of! purchase must comprise a scheme for the subdivision of the estate; into allotments, not,less than 25| acres and not moire than 500 acres in extent, an£ for the'allocation of eaeh of those allotments to one of the purchasers at afixed price, pro-) Tided the untatproved value of •neb allotment, with the Mmnaproved value of gU-ether land of any description Owned, held or occupied by such purchaser in New; Zealand does not exceed £2500. To us this Items to be the very best way the Government can provide land for the landless and money-; less. The only things a purchaser' JpMMNBCN® are the qualifications required by applicants for Crown* land under Part m. of "The Land | Zct, lOJB.” Perhaps it is not thel system that Mr. Lane disapprovesImt the administration of it. We learn from him that the special eonunissiqyers have not been apThe Premier told his audience at Iftoton on Monday night that several associations had already acquired land, and some were now in embryo in Southland. If tiie Premier and Mr. Lane arej noth correct, we have evidence of’ another injustice to Hawke's Bay! in the Government's preferential J treatment to tiie South. It may be! that the Southerners have been-) wider awake than the people in! Hawke's Bay, and have moved for. the appointment of commissioners made while we were waiting t tor the Government to ask us if we I wanted or e. However, bt* that as J it may, the'Farmers’ Union is now| taking necessary action, and we I hope before long to be able to re-, considerable activity among the landless in toe direction of placing tiumwelves upon the land J