LAND COMMISSION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1726, 29 March 1905, Page 22

LAND COMMISSION.

DUNEDIN, March 21. At the sitting of the Land. Oommisision to-day Donald Borrie, chairman of the Education Board, said he had been a member of the School Commissioners for six years, and a farmer for many. He approved the present system of appointment to Land Boards. He thought the lands taken under the Land for Settlements Act in this district had been a success. The freehold was the best tenure, but he would not. give it a tenants of the School Commissioners. He was a member of the executive of the Farmers’ Union, and he knew of no canvassers from that body going round among Crown tenants to see if they were satisfied. He thought the School Commissioners’ leases Avere very much more liberal than those usually granted by private landowners. He had been a Leaseholders for some years, and he kneAV. Mr Borrie offered some advice. The very fact of the Commission going through the country and leaving it to those who liked to come forward, instead of summoning those they wanted, resulted in their gathering in all the agitators. Mr Forbes remarked that it was strange if that AA'ere so they had not found more dissatisfaction among Crown tenants. John M. McKenzie, holder (with his brother) of two thousand acres freehold at Bushy Park, and a recent member of the Land Board, said he did not believe in giving the freehold to tenants under the Land for Settlements Act, nor to lease-in-perpetuity settlers. He did not approve any further sale of CroAvn lands. He believed in a straight-out ballot, but not in grouping. He believed that the present nominative system of Land Boards was as satisfactory as any other. If he had a lease-in-per-petuity he would not try to get the freehold on it. He Avould as soon have his own farm under lease-in-perpetuity, and his money in the bank. David Barron said the evidence already given by the School Commissioners covered the ground fairly well. The principal grievance of the Commissioners’ tenants Avas the need of better roads. Without that trouble there Avould have been no grievance brought before the Land Commission. He did not think the Land Board could manage more economically than the School Commissioners. He did not think it Avould be in the interests of education for the Commissioners to grant longer leases. Ernest Atkinson, Crown Lands Ranger, also gave evidence.

The Commission visits Owake to-mor-row, and on Thursday will hear evidence at Barnego, Balclutha, and Clinton. George Livingstone, a member of the Land Board, said he held 640 acres, lease-in-perpetuity, Elderslie estate, and thirty acres freehold near Windsor. He was quite satisfied Avitli his leasehold tenure. Not 5 per cent, of the settlers on Ardgowan, Maerowhenua, Tokarahi, and Windsor Park wished for a change. In his view, the Land Board should have a trifle more discretion in some cases ; it would saAm the delay caused by referring matters to Wellington. The farms in the settlements referred to were more creditably farmed than AA’ere the lands of the freeholders. He had knoAvn of settlers on acquired estates selling their goodwill to advantage. So far as he kneAV, the agitation for the freehold did not come from CroAAm tenants. They wanted to be left as they were. Candidly, many settlers looked on the Commission as a farce and an unnecessary thing. He was not in favour of revaluation, as he thought it Avould be prejudicial to settlement. In his opinion, the right of purchase clause should be eliminated from the Land Act of 1892. Personally, he had no experience of the Advances to Settlers Department, but he had heard grumbling on the score of the smallness of the amount offered in loans. William Dallas said he had experience of farming. He had started with 290 *cres of freehold, and before he sold out he had 1450 acres. It would be to the advantage of the State —because all the best lands were gone—to give the freehold to settlers. It Avould make for the improvement of land. If the lease contract, between Government and settler Avere broken there would haA’e to be reconstruction of value. The principal Avitness before the Land Commission to-day was Donald Reid, senr., farmer, of the Taieri, and a avool commission agent in Dunedin. He has over four thousand acres of freehold in the Taieri. - He said he did not think the system of nominal Ac Land Boards could be improved on. At the same time, he thought there were too many references to the l Minister. He had heard of deputations going as far as Wellington so as to intercede with the Minister and get the decision they Avished. This Avas a bad stale of affairs, and sometimes Avas bad for the client Avho Avas not of the right colour. On the question of tenure, the Avitness was very confident. He could not conceive any country getting the most out of its lands under any other system than the freehold. He thought settlers taking over the freehold of their leases should he able to do so at the price originally fixed. Every inducement

should be given tbe settler so that he might feel he owned part of the soil of New Zealand. As the best method of settling OroAvn lands not yet taken up, he favoured something similar to the deferred payment system, the object being to enable people to take up land at as small an initial cost as possible. There should, he thought, be residential conditions in regard to fertile lands. With grazing lands it was a different matter. He thought the experienced farmer and not the surveyor Avas the man to lay off runs. There should be winter grazing attached to these grazing runs. A good deal of harm had been done by the absence of such provision, as in the case of Rocklands. He thought it would be well to acquire some of these runs so as to properly dispose of the high country. He did not think the homestead system was required in these parts. There Avas more segregation than aggregation of estates going on in Otago. There Avere a great many OAvners of land in all parts of this district AA’anting to sell, but mostly the only buyer they could get Avas the Government. He thought it Avas right for the Government to see that the country was as fully settled as Avas reasonable and profitable. On the other hand, he held that every man should have a right to acquire as much land as he could farm profitably. A rigid limitation of area per individual Avould be unreasonable. He thought the principle of the Lands for Settlement Act was good, and he believed that every landholder thought so too. Mr McLennan took the A\ 7 itness in hand, and started to cross-examine him with great tenacity. As a result, he elicited from the Avitness the statement.. that sometimes land officials did not like to do anything opposed to the policy of the Ministry in power. There AA'ere inspectors and others Avh o came round, and they mostly took their cue from their superiors. Mr McLennan’s susceptibilities were hurt by this. “But,” said he, “do you mean to say that CroAvn tenants are slaves ?” “ Yes,” ansAA’ered the Avitness quietly, “in some cases I think they are.” Mr McCardle asked the AA’itness if he did not think the present anxiety to see that tenants should not be harassed was an indication that there Avas a certain amount of oppression P Mr Reid said it Avould seem so. He did not think it Avould he advisable to alloAv settlers to borroAA 7 too much on

their improvements. The hardship of the lands for settlement system, in his vieAV, might come in in the case of a man AA r ho Avas farming his land to the best advantage ; but in a case like that of Flaxbourne, SO' long as the man Avas given fair A’alue in purchase it AA’as all right.

When Mr Paul's turn in cross-exam-ination came, he mentioned that in the course of his travels Avith the Commission he had. noticed a good deal of both freehold and leasehold land that Avas sadly neglected. Mr Reid, Avith an evident eye to Mr Paul’s labour sympathies, remarked that when the producer had to work with high wages and short hours against the cheapest labour in the world, it was not much to be Avondered at if he did not do all that he might. “Ah, I see,’ 3 said Mr Paul, “then AA’e’ll have to’ pay our Avorkers higher wages to enable them to liuv your produce.” Mr Johnston took the Avitness in hand Avlien his turn came, and asked a number of questions anent the character and value of Mr Reid’s OAvn land in the Taieri. Mr Reid ansAvered diplomatically, and finally offered, to give Mr Johnston all the detailed information he wanted if he would come to his office. Mr Johnston: “I don’t want it in your office : I Avant it here.” Mr Reid said the questions had nothing to do with the evidence he had to give. Mr Johnston : “That’s for me to say.” There folloAved a gust or two of hot retort, and then the witness refused to tell the details of his private business, and the questioning AA’ent on smoothly enough. It Avas elicited, inter alia, that the witness thought it would, bo a good thing to grant the freehold of educational and other endowments. Mr McLennan supposed himself a tenant of Mr Reid’s, and asked how that gentleman Avould like it if he came and claimed from him the freehold at original capital valuation, though there might have been a rise in its Avorth ? “Well.” replied Mr Reid, “so long as I had the right (as the Government has) to tax you afterwards, and make up any deficiency in my income that might result from the deal, I’d he quite satisfied.” DUNEDIN, March 22. Owaka Avas the field of investigation for the Land Commission to-day, and ten Avitnesses were examined. Alfred P/r ad field, of OAvaka Valley, who holds 600 acres of freehold, said he began farming twenty-six years ago, having purchased for cash from the Government- He Avent in for dairying and sheep-farming. There. Avas not much crop groAA’n in the district except for home consumption. He preferred freehold tenure, and fancied the deferredpayment system. He Avas satisfied with j the constitution of Land Boards. RoadI ing Ava-s a very sore point. The set-

tiers get nothing in that direction except from the Government. Within the past few years the County Council’s cry was “No funds for roads.” He had had experience of leasehold under the Government. His experience was that a man with a freehold would do his utmost in improving it. A good farmer on leasehold would be even better if given the freehold. In answer to Mr MoLennen, witness said he considered the Government thirds for roads should be paid when the land was purchased for cash as well as in case of leaseholds. James Nelson, a CroAvn tenant, seven and a half miles from Owaka—with 350 acres lease-in-perpetuity, for which he paid .-£6 10s a year —said he had thirty acres cleared. The rest was in bush. He had been in occupancy seven years. He Avas two miles off the main road, and had no road, not even a track, to his section. He preferred lease-in-perpetuity. To Mr McCardle, the witness stated that he would object to capitalising thirds for road-making. He preferred piecemeal expenditure by the County Council, as at present. He was perfectly satisfied with the constitution of Land Boards, and saw no necessity for giving Crown tenants representation on the Boards. DUNEDIN, March 23. At seven o’clock this morning the Land Commissioners Avere driven over portion of the Barnego settlement. They sat at Balclutha at nine o’clock to hear evidence. John Christie, chairman of the local branch of the Farmers’ Union, said that at a meeting on the previous day the union had passed a resolution for presentation to the Commission :—(1) In favour of elect i \’c Land Boards, (2) supporting the leasehold tenure with right of purchase, (3) in favour of the old system of single ballot. The witness Avas personally in faA’Oiir of Land Boards as now constituted. He did not think Crown tenants should borrow a lump sum to purchase the freehold, but should pay off by degrees. He Avculd giA’o the right of purchase at original valuation, although in some cases it might he fairer to revalue. He thought the improvements on small farms Avould have the effect of preventing monopolists buying them up. Mr Forbes: Suppose a tenant had money to purchase, could he not invest it at 5 per cent. elsewhere ? Witness: Yes, but feAv farmers think that.

To Mr Paul, witness said he had not studied the leasehold question from the point of vieAA’ of the State ; he merely represented the vicAA’.s of the Farmers’ Union,

Alex. StoA’enson, a Barnego settler, holding 115 acres at a rent of 11s per acre, said he avp.s satisfied Avith the lease-in-perpetuity. He found that the land Avas AA’orth the rent. He considered Crown tenants should have three representatives nominated by the Government on Land Boards. At present they had only one member. A Ctoavu tenant at Barnego Avas loaded for roads, but tbe money Avas not expended. Ho would like the right to purchase; it was a natural feeling that a man should Avant to call his land his OAvn. To Mr Paul: Barnego was a success, only one section being unoccupied. If the goodwill for a section increased £SOO, he avou ld give that as a present to the tenant. To Mr McCardle: The tenants were not being stirred up by the Farmers’ Union for political purposes. Herbert Clarke, a Barnego tenant, endorsed the previous witness’s evidence- He would like the option of acquiring the freehold. The failure of the Government to finish protective floodAvorks was a grievance. He believed that the lease-in-perpetuity Avas a good thing. He knew the tenants had no actual right to the freehold. Mr Paul: Are the resolutions of the Farmers’ Union the vieAvs of the freeholders in the district, seeing that only four tenants are members of the branch, of over twenty tenants at Barnego ? Witness: No ; they also represent the views of the tenants.

The witness thought the State was entitled to a portion of the increased value of leasehold land, as but for the State the tenants would not have got on the land. Charles Shand, holder, with his son and daughter, of 1800 acres in Upper Barnego, paid a rent of about £3OO per year. He considered it was in the upper portion of the settlement that real grievances existed. The sections there Avere over-valued. He could get a freehold on Roxburgh cheaper still, but would prefer to purchase the land he was at present on. He liked the Government as a landlord, but thought he should have the option of purchase. The Commission then proceeded to Clinton. DUNEDIN, March 24. Evidence given before the Land Commission by Pomahaka settlers Avas that the sections Avere too small and tho land was ioo dear. Two thousand acres, of Pomahaka, at present, were unoccumed. The Advances to Settlers Department had refused advances to Pomahaka settlers, stating that the. land even with improvements added, Avas not worth the rents settlers Avere paying. One settler, Donald McGregor, declared that the official reports concerning lomahaka, sent

from Wellington, Avere falsified. All the Avitnesses preferred the freehold, characterising the lease-in-perpetuity as a “bastard freehold/’ and not good for anybody. The impression given to the Commissioners by the A'isit to the settlement Avas that Pomahaka is a failure, and the sooner the Government gi\’es those tenants who are still on the land some help by reducing the rents, at least tAvo-thirds, and alloAving larger holdings the better it will be for all concerned. DUNEDIN, March 25. The Land Commission drove from Tapanui to LaAvrence last night, and heard evidence at the latter place today, leaving for Dunedin subsequently. Giving evidence at Lawrence, Alexander Fraser, chairman of the Tuapeka branch of the Farmers' Union, and owner of nearly tAvo hundred acres of land, besides being the holder of tAventy-six acres on lease, Avitli right of purchase, said he had been thirty-six years in the district. Used judiciously, the nominative Land Board system was the best. All the same, he had always had a feeling that politics had a say in deciding some matters that came before the Board. His idea Avas that each district should be divided, into wards, with a member for each ward on the Board. Central Otago ought to be represented. The freehold was the best tenure for the country. It made for a more contented people, and more energy was consequently put into the Avorking of the land. If there were to be any future change in the system of tenures, he Avould suggest that they be reduced to five, \’iz., temporary license; lease of arable lands Avitli right of purchase under deferred payment; the deferred payment system; the homestead system and the pastoral lease. Pastoral runs AA’ere not grassed as aa’cll as they used to be. Rest and surface soAving Avould be beneficial. Land Boards should haA’e more discretion in some matters, and they should be quite free from Ministerial control. He had a strong suspicion that members of Land Boards Avere appointed to carry out the aims of the party, in poAA’er. Under cross-examination, this Avitness said he thought there avas room for the homestead system in some parts of Tuapeka. He Avas opposed to the grouping system and to loading for roads. Pomahaka might have been successful had it been less heavily loaded. A good deal of money was squandered under the co-operatwe system. Loading ought to be abolished. Although tbe Valuation Department bad put values up, he did not think the value had really increased. He knew’ of cases Avhere settlers had had difficulty in getting advances from the department. He believed political pressure came into this matter also. A good road to tlio Greenfield estate would greatly add to the probability of its success. The boundaries of the counties should be altered so as to bring Greenfield into Tuapeka.

By Mr AnsteyA good deal of CroAvn land had been turned over by dredging in this district, but most of it was shallow land. There should be some restriction of dredging in tlie Island Block district. It Avas possible that the Government had paid, far too much for Pomahaka at the start.

By Mr McCutcheon: Tlie period under the deferred payment system should be extended, and the payment made as light as possible. The Advances to Settlers Act was one of the best measures ever brought in. He was strongly of opinion that it was an iniquitous thing to load settlers' land for all time for roads which always remained the property of the Crown. He thought the “ loaded ” money should be expended by the local bodies. By Mr McLennan: He was in favour of the Lands for Settlement Act, but he thought it was in the interest of the State that its settlers should be freeholders. He had noticed that since the Commission had been going round, Mr S'eddon had expressed his intention of taking some of the powers from Crown rangers who harassed the tenants. Mr Paul took the witness back to the Land Board question, and asked him if he agreed with a previous. witness that it would be a good thing for Land Board meetings to be held in different parts of the land district. The witness did not think so. Value should be the ruling principle in limiting the extent of holdings. The tendency of the country’s labour laws was to make people flock to the towns. A similar tendency was noticeable in other countries. _ James Robertson, a farmer of 970 odd acres of freehold, was another advocate of freehold and of the deferred payment system. He favoured a single ballot. Land Boards would do very well as they were. He knew of no good band in- the district, except at Island Block, that was being destroyed by dredging. One of the reasons for many of the married men leaving the district in the old days was th© country’s land laws. The freehold could not be got. He thought, money could be spent much more economically by local bodies than undei the cooperative system. . , John Edie, County Engineer, and a farmer of 600 acres of freehold at Crookston, had no fault to find with the present constitution of Land

Boards. As to tenure, settlers should be allowed to take up Crown lands as they wished, but estates that had been resumed for close settlement should remain under the lease-in-perpetuity system. There was no need for the homestead system in this district. He believed in a single ballot, and he thought ‘loaded” money could be more economically spent by local bodies than by the Government. It would be bettei foi the Government to pay the loading and have a prosperous settlement, than to have the settlers struggling. There was a tendency in his district towaids the aggregation of farms up to, say, 1000 acres, and this was not beneficial, jpjio Advances to Settlers Act was one of the best of measures. Dredgers should be compelled to surface-sow the land behind them. He did not know of a case of a ranger harassing tenants, and he thought the rangers generally were capable men. John Bulfin, a farmer of about 1000 acres, chiefly freehold, favoured elective Band Boards and the deferred payment system. A purchasing clause, to be operative after the conditions had been fulfilled, should be included in the iease-in-perpetuity. Freehold was the best tenure for the country, and he was of opinion that the cost of roads should come out of general revenue. Robert Go-wie, a farmer of 500 acres of freehold, and holder of 1340 acres pastoral lease, and 1600 acres on small grazing license, as well as a mem be of the Farmers’ Union, thought pastoral tenants should have full valuation foi reasonable improvements at the- end of the lease. Commonages and reserves should be under the Land Boards, or other Tboai’ds. Edward O’Neill. Grown Lands Ranger, said that Crown tenants generally in the district were fulfilling their conditions very well. The improvements he had seen on lands for settlement sections in North Otago were better than any he had seen elsewhere. In the Lawrence district he had not had occasion more than once to speak to a tenn.nt. There were freeholders as well as leaseholders who did not farm their lands as well as they might, and there w T ere good men in both classes. He did not think there, were any unnecessary restrictions hampering Crown tenants. He could be a Crown tenant, and not feel half a slave. He did not know of a single incompetent man being appointed a ranger. Asked if he thought the rent at Pomahaka was too high, the witness said he preferred not to answer.