A CHECK ON DUMMYISM.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 932, 10 January 1890, Page 16

A CHECK ON DUMMYISM.

THE LAND SYSTEMS OF OTHER COLONIES. The request made by the Wellington Land Board to the Land Department of Victoria for information relative to the method adopted in that colony to prevent dummyism has elicited a lengthy communication from Mr */V. Black, the Surveyor-General of Victoria. The writer has gone very fully into the whole question, and explained the former and present methods of dealing with the lands of the Crown in Victoria, The letter shows that when free selection Ayas first adopted the successful applicant Avas required to ballot in the manner in vogue in NeAv Zealand, the result being that dummyism was rampant and regular organisations of people Avere formed Avlio travelled over the country Avhere even land was available stuffing the ballot boxes with fictitious names, and reducing to a minimum the chances of bona fide selection. Thus much of the best lands in Victoria passed into the hands of speculators and capitalists. The Land Act of 1869 was passed to cope with this evil. The local Land Boards were first appointed, who inquired into the bona fides of all applicants for land, and Avhether tlie application should be granted or refused. Applicants attended before the Boards, and questioned as to their means, occupations, -and circumstances ; and, as Avell, applicants were allowed to cross-question each other. The Board could form a pretty good idea of who Avas bona fide and Avho was not, and made their recommendation to the Minister of Lands, Avith whom rested the final decision. A strict watch was maintained oA 7 er the conduct of the selector, and if it was found that he was not complying Avith the residential and other conditions of his license, and if doubts Avere created as to his bona fides he was at once brought to the local Land Board to slioav cause Avhy his license should not he cancelled. If tb e result was unfavourable to the selector he Avas barred from selecting again.' The present system under the Land Act in Victoria consists' of leaseholds. 1 - ‘ Sales by auction tare > restricted' saltno&t entifre£j£ t'o/ toAvn ; lands,- and ipurckasd tfn payment, to'the exte’frfc’ acres, is provided £0?, ’s& Jy'stehl' tbkt' ' Lottlement Jq <§n liberal'terms, t^e s o| will' not bq picket l o.v\t, and it will sec”~ tbe re'Y°r§mh Pi a largo proportm- •-« wields a,Ui o sfc arbitrary.power. A of Mr Blaek’s

tibn was lit# before the Land Bobi;d yesterday. The Chief Commissioner (MtJ: W. A. Marchant) shid that that mah’s exposition pointed to the conclusion that by choosing the selector, onforcing residence and withholding Grown grants, limiting freehold selection, and carefully controlling all dealings by way of transfer mortgage, etc., Victoria had shown a system which is declared to work with satisfactory results, and to have almost extinguished dummyism. It was resolved that the thanks or the Board be conveyed to Mr Black, Surveyor-General of Victoria, and the Secretary for Lands, New South Wales, for their full and suggestive information a 3 to the land laws and administration in the colonies of Victoria and New fooutn Wales.