Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 5017, 14 December 1877, Page 2

A good deal is likely yet to be heard about the Land Bill and the AVasto Lands Sales Bill, the last-named of which was the cause of a prolonged dispute between the Legislative Council and the House of Represuntiitivcs, while the former brought on the latest variance between the Governor and the Premier. Sir George Grey indeed, assumed the very great responsibility of keeping in his pocket the Land Bill, which had passed both Houses, so that it should not becomo law by receiving the Governor's assent. He no doubt felt ihe full weight of the responsibility thereby incurred, and was prepared to face the consequences. There can be very little doubt :is to what the result would have been had the Premier choked the bill. He would have pointed out to the people the. obnoxious

clauses, and shown how the future of tine country would be injuriously affected by their coming into operation. He would, unquestionably have been borne out by public opinion, and in these circumstances mare legislators would have had to give way. It is not easy to see how there can be any interruption now to the course of tlie Act ; but who knows ? Sir George Grey is a man of ample resources, and it would be very hard for anyone to say when he has played his last card. For the last few years the runholders of Canterbury have been in a nervous condition about their runs, the present leases of which expire in 1880. They have had a splendid bargain, andhavemadegiganticfortunes. They have had the use of immense tracts of the land belonging to the nation—in which ever}' man in the country has an interest—at a nominal rent ; the land has turned out much better than was expected, while wool has maintained a high price for a good many years past. Owing to these causes, the runholders have been enabled to use large suni3 of money, and by judicious working of laws and regulations they have "spotted "and "gridironed " the public lands in such a way that, for the purchase of one acre they have the perpetual use of two. This has not been, of course, the invariable result, but the endeavour has been to approach it as closely as possible. If the runs had been put up to auction in 1880, the runholders would still have been the most highly favoured men in the Colony. The runholders contend that under certain regulations, which they got passed in 1858, the right of grazing and the right of renewal of the licenses were to remain. There were two periods for which the rents were fixed. The first was from May, 1860, to May, 1873 ; and the second from May, 1873 to May, 1880. The clause upon which the runholders based their right was as follows: " A pasturage license shall entitle the holder thereof to the exclusive right of pasture over the land specified therein, upon the terms abovestated. Such license shall be renewed from year to year, until the land specified therein shall be purchased, granted, or reserved under these regulations."

The facts of the case may bo shortly ■stated in the words that the tunholders have strengthened their position at every step, and have made the fact that they possessed such and such a right anargumont why they should have further advantages. The latest argument, and it is put forward as if incontrovertible, is that certain individuals have bought for high prices from former holders, and that these people have " rights" which must be regarded. We wonder what the City Council of Auckland would say if the lessees of the city property were to claim the right to hold it perpetually at the present rentals. The face of the Town Clerk would be a picture if it were mooted that a bill should be passed through the House for such a purpose. "O, but," say the advocates for the runholders, "these people bought the runs, on the understanding that their class would have power to work the Assembly !" which plea we will leave without comment. The runholders contend that they have a perpetual right, but they were modest enough in the Land Bill to ask for only ten years more, certain, and then their interest was absolutely to cease, in 1890. The value of the runs is to be fixed in 1880, and the provisions for that purpose, thero cannot be the slightest doubt, will be managed so as to bo favourable to the runholders. However, thanks to the Legislative Council and the Marquis of Normauby, the Land Bill is now law, and the runholders and those interested with them are quite satisfied. We should not object to all the tenants of the Crown having tho most liberal interpretations put upon their agreements, but in this case they have had too many advantages, and the community have suffered for the benefit of a class.

The history of the Waste Lands Sale BUI may oc shortly told. The 4th clause makes the price of Grown lands uniform throughout the Colony. It is to be sold at not less than £2 per acre, if by free selection, and if put up to auction the upset price shall not be less than XI. Where land has been ottered at auction, but not sold, it shall be open for sale by free selection by proclamation of the Governor at £1 per acre. Mr. Reid proposed, and it was carried by 25 to 24, that the Hmnestead system, which in the Land Bill is restricted to Auckland, should be extended to all the Colony, but the 11 Lords " of the Council would have none of it, and the House of Representatives was compelled to yield in order to get away home . To make the price of land uniform throughout the Colony is absurd. We have land here which it will cost £10 or £12 an acre to clear, and this is put on a level with grassed lands, where the plough has merely to be put to work, and which, moreover, has vast advantages in roads and railways over our blocks, which are mostly in localities at present inaccessible. However, the measure was introduced simply as a temporaiy one. It will have the effect of stopping land sales in this province, and the purchase of laud from the natives is so complex, and difficult a process that but little can be done in that way. The only chance which the Waste Lands Board have is to deal with selectors under the homestead system as liberally as possible.