SPECIAL SETTLEMENTS IN NORTH AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7689, 14 July 1886, Page 6

SPECIAL SETTLEMENTS IN NORTH A UCKLAND.

Th£ adjourned meeting to discuss the question of special settlements was held last night in the Temperance Hall, Albert* street, and was, like the previous meeting largely attended. Mr. Grant again presided, and called upon Mr. Mcllhone, who moved the adjournment of the previous meeting, to make any observations he might think fit. Mr. Mcllhone said he understood there were some present who hsvd inspected the land, and asked that they would give the result of their inspection. He would defer his remarks until afterwards. Mr. Lundon said he was at Onehunga the other night and saw five or six men who were at their previous meeting, who had been to inspect the ground and also three men from Canterbury, one of whom he knew had returned, and if he were in the room that night he asked him to come on the platform and state the result of his inspection of the district. Mr. Lee, the gentleman referred to, said he had looked over the district, and did not think much of the Motukaraka ground for settlers, but the other block, the Onehunga endowment, was very good, though he though 20 acres was not enough to keep a man going, as he did not see anything round about to help him along. The Onehunga block he did not think could be beaten for general farming, but he thought 40 acres was the least a man could do upon. His idea was that Government should leave a block alongside the first one that the occupier take it up when he could on the deferred payment system. Mr. Lundon said that he had told them before that the land in the Motukaraka block was not bo good as that in th« Onehunga block, but it was better situated. He also said that those without money should not go so far as the Victoria Valley. He himself thought 20 acres was too small, but they could not alter the law. The speaker then gave further description of the lands available, and invited questions on the subject. Mr. Bettany asked what rent would be charged by the Government for the first 20 years ? Mr. Lundon said Is an acre ; but he thought if they put pressure on the Government they would not have to pay it more than five years. Mr. Bettany was proceeding to speak, and, in reply to calls of *' platform," took his place there, and said those were mistaken who supposed he was opposed to the scheme of Mr. Lundon. He had made the land schemes his study for the last 25 years, and be would like to see the day when the land not only of New Zealand but of every country should belong to the people. This was a step in the right direction, and if it were properly started he would give it all the help he could, but he wished to have the conditions made right. He wished the land to be nationalised, and in carrying out that policy no place of selection should be allowed, but the land should be put up to public competition and the money placed in the hands of the people. They should have a national bank as well as nationalisation of land, and the revenue derived from land should go into that bank, and not into the hands of an individual landlord or mortgagee. Any money lent by Government should be on as good security as if it were lent by private individuals. He asked where a man was to go if he had no money, and where he was to get his first breakfast? He also asked when the £20 promised by the Government was to be paid ? They wanted that to begin with. He was prepared to support the scheme, if Government would help in that way. Mr. Flood read a short report written by a gentleman who had lived for 20 years in the Hokianga district, and had gone out to England to recommend it to settlers. The report stated the land was as good as could possibly be found. Mr. K. Boyd, in a lively speech, commented on the impossibility of a family getting a living on 20 acres. What could be expected in help of rates and taxes, that had to be paid, from people whose stomach was their own market. The Government had voted £29,000 to encourage immigration. He though the nationalisation of land should include the owners of 20,000 acres 38 well as the smaller lots. What they wanted was a grant of sufficient land to induce people of small capital to go and iive on it. A large number of questions were asked and suggestions made, among the speakers being Messrs. Boyd, Garrard, Neylon, Nixon, and Johansen, Mr. Grace proposed a resolution to the effect that the proposed scheme was in the right direction, but that, as an auxiliary, public works should be established in aid of settlers on such land; that the maximum be 100 acres, and the American system of co-operative farming be encouraged by the Government. Mr. Neylon seconded the resolution. To various inquiries as to how people without money were to get to work at Hokianga, Mr. Lundon suggested application to Mr. Graham, Relieving Officer, or the | Mayor, when possibly passage money might be granted. He also recommended the \ calling of a public meeting to petition tbe Government on the subject. Mr. Bettany moved a resolution against any further sale of Crown lands, which he said should always be kept in the hands of the State. There was no use in these Hokianga jobs going on. They should stop the sale of land altogether. Mr. Jordan moved an amendment objecting to Mr. Grace's resolution being put, as the meeting had been called to consider how those who wished could get on to the land. Mr. Skiffington seconded the amendment. Mr. Mcllhone moved : " That this meeting, having considered Mr. Ballance's scheme for the settlement of land, as explained by Mr. Lundon at the last meeting, heartily approves of the same." Mr. Rule seoonded the motion. Mr. Grace moved his resolutions, with the addition that the Government should provide means of transport, free of charge, to those who wished to go to Hokianga. Another speaker thought the proper solution was for the Government to supply the settlers with cows, poultry, pigs, &c, and charge them half price. Mr. Mcllhone withdrew his amendment, as its object was included in that of Mr. Grace. Mr. Grace's resolution was then put to the meeting, but met with no support, and was therefore declared lost. Mr. Lundon put to the meeting a resolution approving of the scheme, which was unanimously carried, and at his request three cheers were given for Mr. Ballance. The proceedings closed with » vote of thanks to the chairman.