LAND SETTLEMENT INITIATED.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 243, 30 September 1911, Page 4

LAND SETTLEMENT INITIATED.

Tut: land settlement proposals of the Government, as contained in the last Budget, have met with warm appreciation from the Hon. J. D. Ormond. who on Thursday last initiated a discussion on the subject in the Legislative Council. He opened the question by moving: ‘‘That this Council expresses its satisfaction with the land settlement proposals authorised in the Financial State ment, especially that in addition to the present systems for the disposal of Crown lands settlement by associations of intending settlers is to be encouraged in conjunction with the ecnstruction of public works.” The hon. gentleman followed up this resolution by a warm endorsement of the policy outlined, and referred to the success which had attended this method of settlement in the past. To better understand the position, however, we quote briefly from the Budget to refresh our readers memories on the subject. In the course of his speech the Premier referred to the proposal to establish co-oper-ative banks and then went on to say these banks “can be usefully employed by the land settlements, which I also propose to provide for. These settlements will be promoted on the following lines. Land:; now inaccessible, but well suited for settlement, will be acquired by the Crown. Of these there are considerable areas, both with Native and European owners, as well as areas which are still Crown land. A scheme of pulfl ic works will be submitted to provide communication t.c these areas by road or rail. Application for these lands will be called* for and the applicants may be of two kinds (1) individual applicants. (2) of associated settlers. The latter will consist of not less, than ter. or more than 25 persons, preferably married men or women with families. In neither of these eases will there ]>e allotment by ballot. A careful examination of the fitness of applicants will be made and suitable areas allctled to cither. By this means I anticipate these settlers will be enabled to carry on until the farms are sufficiently productive t< maintain their owners. Ample facility will be given moreover to these settlers to form farmers’ cc-operativc-banks and so obtain capital to help the members of the associations. This proposal, by the elimination ol the ballot scheme, will remove much of the present discouragement in failure to draw an allotment, and will also check to some extent the traffic which liar, here and there arisen upder our Land Ac...” This,, briefly, is an outline of the scheme which Mr. Ormond has commended lo the country ;i::d we believe his opinion will be endorsed by all sections of the people. Without delvinc deeply into ancient history it may b< .said that the success which attended somewhat similar methods in the past was material and lasting, and many a comfortable holding to day bears testimony to the efficacy c-f the scheme to promote healihy settlement. In the days to which Mr. Ormond refers, however, men. acquired land to work on and establish homes, but of Inter years it has been found that more money can be made through buying and selling land than by farming it', and methods ot selection more suitable for the speculator have come into operation. It was fondly hop-d that the ballot system would give all an equal chance of securing land and remove the danger of the poor man being victimised by the wealthy bidder at auctions. But. unfortunately, it has fallen far short of what was hoped from it. Speculators crowd each ballot and quadruple the chances against the bona fide settler, and a man may follow the ballot for years without success. A system is needed whereby the poor man can get upon the land, and. moreover, get upon it under conditions which will enable liini to live when he is there. The opening of land for selection far ahead of reads and bridges fins alwavs been a flagrant blunder ; a blunder which operated to the disanvantage of both State and tenant, and although Government has apparently awakened very late to the fact, we are glad to see commonsense prevail at last. By properly roading and bridging country before it is thrown open settler's will be in touch with markets from the time they occupy then In blings, and' the Government will from the commencement reap n just return from the increased value of the land. If. aim. it is arranged that the individual selectors, or association of selectors, are employed upon I he work of opening up their own block, it will provide them with an excellent oppertunity of adding to their store of capital befoie Liking i.ver their holdings. I rider such ", System ’.ve should get rid of the I speculator, for while those gentry I are quite prepared to make money lout of the labout of others they will | siiv clear of a speculation that means la hand to hand conflict with a longhandled shovel. AVith such a system I in operation there might, perhaps, I be some justification for recommendI ing New Zealand as a place for set- | tlement by people from Britain, but i oar present methods provide the I most unmitigated deception to th n j persons who come here thinking they ican acquire Government land. Mhen i a man starts out with the heart and I determination to make a home for | himself, he cannot afi' n-d +o spend. I a life-t ime test ing fortune at the balllct. As an extension of this scheme Sve'shoidd also like to sec il applied Ito Native Land. Thousands of acres i of Native land lie idle in the Dcinini ion with remote possibility under I existing laws of satisfactory scttle- | ment. The native who lolls about m the security of his bro-itu acres, is

cheered by the knowledge that die pakehtt is putting up his unearned increment each your. 'Hie time has g.;ne bv for this special wet mireng of the -Maori. Where the native is prepared io work let him rec‘o e ct ei v h('lp and enecuiagejuenl. but if he won’t work his land Government should let: some other man do it for him. It must be remembered, of ccurso, that the land policy referred to is as yet only “in the air/' It remains, to be seen if Sir Joseph > promises will mnteralise into genuineaction.