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Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10237, 4 January 1894, Page 4

The Land for Settlements Act may require some amendment in a direction to which attention has been drawn by the Land Purchase Commissioners. Though the specific desire is to encourage close agricultural settlement, yet there are blocks of mixed land which cannot be satisfactorily dealt with unless there is power to lease pastoral farms of a considerable area. While the present limitation of 320 acres exists, Ministers cannot purchase properties which contain a considerable proportion of pastoral land, even though it should be most desirable to acquire the estates for the sate of the good agricultural land comprised in them. One block in North Canterbury now under offer to the Government, consists of 114,000 acres. Before this offer could be entertained it would probably be necessary to also increase the sum that Ministers are authorised to expend annually in tho acquisition of land for settlements. A section of the Conservatives will of course raise a terrific hubbub over any such proposal, and then, should they succeed in keeping the hands of the Government tied, will continue to blame it for not buying more estates. We have every confidence that Parliament will exercise a wise judgment in the matter, and will amend the Act in such directions as may be necessary, though, to judge from present appearances, there is no immediate need for enforcing the principle of compulsory acquisition. However, tho latter point cannot be definitely decided until the Land Purchase Commissioners have reported upon the blocks now under offer to the Government.