THE LAND COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12817, 17 March 1905, Page 3

THE LAND COMMISSION.

f SITTING AT ST. BATHANS. | ;ii [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] j Sr. Bathans, Thursday, - j OX Wednesday evening some of the mcmoers of the Commission drove front Opliir to the Ruggery Range, from which they secured a good view of Ida. Valley. At halfpast seven o'clock this morning the Commission lefV Opliir for St. Bathans. On the way, the value of. irrigation was evidenced in the land occupied by Mr. John Wilson a tew miles out of the town. Some very good pastoral country was also .seen. It is the liest that has been seen since leaving Queenstown. The downs have a fine warm aspect. St. Bathans was reached shortly after eleven o'clock, and a, sitting was at once held in the public hall. Win. Pyle. storekeeper and fanner, said irrigation had been carried on in the district with good results. Mining did not interfere with farming, but farming interfered' with mining. When a mining right was required, it was generally found it could only be secured after a good deal of litigation. Edward Morgan, miner and farmer, said he held 400 acres on lease in perpetuity, paying a rental of 5d per acre. Some of the land was arable, and! other parts stony. He thought the lease in perpetuity was a good tenure in mining communities. JJinkson Mee, farmer near Becks, said he preferred freehold land to leasehold. He had a small water race on his property for irrigation. He did not like the lease, because there was no saving when the Government would turn round and alter the conditions. Robert Elliott, manager of P. lack stone Hill station, said longer leases and certainty of tenure would induce greater improvement of the runs. Richard Wilson, farmer, said lie preferred the freehold to leasehold land. He would like to have the opportunity of paying up Ihe purchase money by instalments, and having his rent reduced proportionately. He would l favour restrictions being placed on the area one man could: hold according to the value of the land.

The commissioners left in the afternoon for Naseby.