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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9149, 3 September 1888, Page 4

The suggestion made by a correspondent in another column, under the heading, " Settlement in the Country," is well worthy of earnest consideration. He proposes that the Government .should have posters placed in public places giving information in an attractive way, as to the lands that are available for occupation, their position, character, and the terms on which they can be obtained, as a means of arresting the stieam of emigration that is proceeding by every steamer. Indeed, it is surprising that something 01 the sort has not been clone, for though our land settlement regulations may not be all that they ought to be, there is quite sufficient in them to meet the desires of hundreds of industrious men who are landless, and who have been deterred from the intention to take up land by the difficulties, real or imaginary, that stand in the way. There is no denying of the fact that in the past it has been really difficult for intending settlers to obtain land. The intricacies of red tape unravel sfowir, and only after patience and the expenditure of great pains and considerable time — and even then nor always successfullyhave men been enabled to obtain the portion of soil that suited their requirements and tastes. it should not be so now. The earth-hunger has has been sated to the sickening point; and speculative purchasers are no longer standing open-mouthed to swallow every choice morceau the instant it is ottered. It is true the free gift under the Homestead system is not very attractively pressed ; but under the leasehold system of perpetual tenure and with right of purchase at any time, there are huge areas of very valuable and fertile lands at this moment available, which if they were only known, would prove a very powerful attraction to many who are blindly rushing from our shores. Why are they not made known ' Why are not colonists who have been inured to colonial life tempted to stay with us by the best we have to offer'! by are these fertile and easily obtainable lands not pressed on their attention in the colony, as Canadian and American lands are pressed on the attention or would-be emigrants in England.- Vie confess we cannot tell ; unless it be that the reaction from the past has lett the colony so nerveless that its administration is not equal to the effort, and is content with saying laissez a'kr.