The Star. (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1751, 11 October 1887, Page 2

The Star. (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1887.

SALES OF CROWN LANDS

The Evening Post and other journals report that two points in Major Atkinson's policy are reduction of expenditure to the extent of £300,000 a year, and the sale of Crown lands to the extent of £200,000. The former journal goes on to say • "As to the proposed forced sales ot' Crown lands, we protest against it in the strongest terms. The colony is not yet reduced to the position of having to realise its assets by ruinous sacrifices. It is not compelled to force it lands into the market as a bankrupt draper's stock may be thrust upon the public. The quantity of land still left to the colony is not by any means very large, and nothing could act more injudiciously on the future interests of New Zealand than to sell what is left at a sacrifice, or for any other purpose than to promote settlement. There is no such demand as to justify the belief that legitimate purchasers for purposes of settlement can be found to buy to the extent named The only way such a sum could be raised would be by selling at a satrifice in large blocks, which might be taken up at a price, to be held for speculative purposes. Such sales would reproduce borne of the worst mistakes made by the various Provincial Governments in their dealings with the waste lands." One of the most difficult devices of the enemy to meet is a suggestion of what is false, given in connection^ with a half-truth. Electors of Egmont know exactly what Major Atkinson's views are on this subject, and cannot therefore be misled. He has stated in the clearest possible language that he thoroughly approves both the perpetual leasehold and the deferred payment systems. And in the Town Hall, in Hawera, expressed the opinion that although the levying of the Taranaki Harbour rate was a direct result of the introduction of those systems, he did not believe there was a single elector present who would regret the introduction of those systems It was the Hall- Atkinson Government which, between 1879 and 1884, cut up and disposed of most, in fact nearly all, of the land on the Plains, the large proportion of deferred payment and leapehold lands out of the whole is proof positive that that Government and the party at their back approve thoroughly of the settlement of the land by suitable farmers and under the tenures other than freehold. But, at the same time, Major Atkinson has also expressed his opinion that any person coming to New Zealand with the intention of settling should have the opportunity either of purchasing Crown Lands right out, or of taking up either State leasehold or deterred payment land. This sentiment was loudly applauded at the time. And we have no hesitation in saying that as New Zealand has to compete with other countries such as Manitoba, Mexico, and the Argentine Provinces, all of which, like New Zealand, are anxious to induce farmers with small capital to come and settle on their lands, New Zealand will be hr ivily handicapped in the competition unless Crown Lands are open for sale on the freehold tenure as well as on deferred payment and State leasehold conditions. When the Post talks of selling large blocks of Crown Lands at a sacrifice, it suggests a course of action, which, judging by the recent action of the Stout- Vogel Government in respect to the Midland Bailway, would be much more akin to the policy of the late, than of the present Government. Major Atkinson would be the last man to consent to any such policy. The liberal extension in this district during the Hall-At-kinson term of office, of the deferred payment system, under which not more than 320 acres can be held by any one man, is a proof of the anxiety of the party now in office to settle the land with a numerous body of yeomen farmers. Major Atkinson believes that a considerable number of very desirable settlers of the small farmer class at present avoid New Zealand as a field of settlement, simply because they cannot obtain from the Crown at first hand freehold farms by purchase. He has apparently told his party with that outspokenness which is ever conspiciuous in his speeches, just as he told the electors here, that New Zealand cannot now afford to drive such desirable colonists away from her shores ; they are the men who by increasing the production of the colony, will most rapidly lessen the burden of indebtedness. Let those who remember the state of affairs in 1877 and 1878 recall the position. The land fund was then reckoned in millions, all of it derived fiom sales of Crown land under the auspices and direction of Sir Robert Stont and Mr. Ballance, leading lights of the Great Liberal Party. Mr. Macandrew then brought down a public works policy involving an expenditure of some eight millions, i largely based on funds to be raised by ! further sales of Crown Lands, which sales, however, could never be realised for the simple reason that the Canterbury Crown Lands, from which the bulk of the money had been derived in the past was all sold, and there were no other marketable Crown Lands available. Let our readers compare that record of 1878 with the proposals attributed to Major Atkinson to sell £200,000 worth of Crown Lands in 1888, and ask themselves, which is the party whose policy in

resect to the settlement of Crown Land's, is truly liberal.