THE LAND FUND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 5019, 17 December 1877, Page 3

THE LAND FUND.

TO THE KDTTOPSir, —In these three words I have struck the key-note of the policy which ak ue will ameliorate the future of New Zealand. We in the North say that the so-called compact of ISSG was illegal and ultra vires on the part of those representing us at the time, inasmuch as they attempted to bind succeeding generations to an agreement in which all was given and nothing taken. A few thousands was the consideration for the millions which have been gathered into the coffers of Otago and Canterbury. Whether we be of Paul or whether of Apollos we all agree that the Land Fund should have been, and must lie, the property of the colony as a Thole. But, sir, while all this wrangling has been taking place at Wellington, while those whose duty it was to protect our interests have been exchanging doubtful courtesies, the laud has been gradually disappearing. Those who retain possession of the assets remaining to balance our partnership account have been realising and converting them to their own use. Sir, lam not one who cares who is in power so long as justice is done to Auckland in this matter. The squabbles of both sides sink to beneath contempt when a matter of this paramount importance is at stake. Why, then, L want to know, do the present Government, after beginning so well in respect of this enormous abuse, shut their eyes to the desperate efforts now being made by tlm South to close its fists on tlio laud. It is all very well to cry out, '' We will take the Land Fund but if the land be ail gone, or so reduced as to be valueless, what then ? Sir, the House is now straining at a gnat and swallowing any amount of camels. The gnat in the broad idea of generalising the Land Fund, the camels are the bills which are now flooding the House, providing for the absorption of the proceeds of the sale of land in the construction of local public works in the South. Many of these bills are finding supporters and passing the Lower with, at all events, a fair chance in the Upper House. There seems to be a determination on the part of the South to swallow as much land l'or harbours, railways, boroughs and other local purposes as possible, prior to the final absorption of the Land Fund in the colonial revenue. That the Government permit such matters to be even talked about is, I am sure, attributable to the presence of Mr. Macandrew in the Ministry. Can a leopard change its spots? Or c.in Mr. Macandrew forget the idol of bis heart— Otago ? Can any sane man credit the fact that without any definite corresponding ad vantage to be gained for Otago, Mr. Macandrew would consent to an adjustment of an account which he well knows would showan enormous debit against his darling province '! I tell you, sir, the Land Fund will go from us yet, if the most peremptory check be not put upon this system of attempting to use the land itself as a means of providing local works, towards which the general funds of the colony would never bo permitted to be applied. If the people of this place would leave off vapouring about "the wrongs and rights of the people," " the invasion of their liberties," and "the tyranny of an upstart aristocracy," and just carefully read their Hansards and Blue Books, they would discover that underneath all this avalanche of phrases there were real hard-headed men at work, of whom they scarcely ever hear at this distance, who are undermining their ever-cherished hope of a settlement of accounts with the South. While we are chasing fanciful shadows, the substantial property of the people of this colony is being filched. These remarks, sir, will, I hope, cause you to make further inquiry into this matter. —I am, &c. 3 F. A. [This letter was written a fortnight ago by a country settler, but has only now made its appearance.—Ed.]