LAND SETTLEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12536, 25 June 1901, Page 6

LAND SETTLEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA.

The publication of the report of the Royal Commission appointed by the Imperial Parliament to draft a scheme of land settlement for the conquered territories in South Africa brings our attention back again to the war and the prospects of permanent peace. Long before the real character of the war was revealed ,we insisted that peace was only to be secured by the settlement of a large British population in the Boer States, for it was obvious even then that the numerical preponderance, of Dutch settlers constituted a certain danger to the tranquillity of the . whole country, including, 'of course, Cape Colony. Our own experience in New Zealand has shown us how materially the close settlement of the land contributes to the prosperity of a Stats, and authorities' are agreed that the resources of the country will never be developed so long as the land 1 system allows the retention of immense tracts by single families. In dealing with these questions the Commission’s report breaks no new ground. But we cannot overlook the compliment that has been paid to this colony in the recommendation that our system of the compulsory acquisition of private land by the Government should' be adopted in the settlement of new colonies. The wisdom of the recommendation is beyond question, and it seems to us that the adoption of the system would remove immediately many of the more serious difficulties, that the Sigh Commissioner would have to face in settling the country. But a great deal will depend on the character of the selected immigrants. Soldiers do not necessarily make good fanners, and penniless Cockneys might defeat the best intentions of the authorities. It would he worse than useless to crowd South Africa with possible loafers. If the Imperial Parliament decides to adopt the Commission’s report, Mr Chamberlain will be wise to borrow a few officers of the New Zealand Lands Department to put the scheme in working order.