Daily Circulation, 1500 The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1889.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 4459, 28 August 1889, Page 2

Daily Circulation, 1500 The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1889.

Mb John M'Kekzib took very good advantage of onr exposure of the fact thit Jndge Williams had stated to the Commissioner of Lands for Ofcago that land acquired under Acts in existence ptior to the coming into force of the Act of 1887, need not be included in calculating the quantity of land held by an applicint for land under that .dot. The person who gave ub that information performed a signal service, and Mr M'Kenzie deserves thanks for having brought the subject under the notice of the Government. The Minister for Lauds, however, bears out the opinion we expressed in our article that those who, under the present Aot added to their broad acres by cash purchases may make the dec'aration under the Act, for that declaration mentions perpetual lease and deferred payment land only, and does not mention land bought for cash. As we pointed out, every new Act passed on the same lines as that of 1887 will enable cash purchasers under previous & ots to make a fresh start and to add indefinitely to his landed possessions. It will naturally be asked why oaah purchashera should have such an advantage over those who take up land under systems of periodio payment. Inquirers on the subject had better appeal to the Government for an explanation. It appears to us that it Is the old story of the power of the long purse. If ii be injurious to restriot the quantities of land that may be taken np under other systems, It is no less injurious to permit cash purchasers to take up as muoh as they choose. The Act of 1887 professes to place restrictions on all, but it appears to have designedly made an exception in favor of capitalists, It is certain that the Government have either been guilty of another great legislative blunder, or they have indnced Parliament by a trick to perpetrate an aot of gross favoritism, The position is a very serious one. The quantity of cultivable land in possession of the Crown in this Island has so seriously diminished that it is only with great difficulty that any is to be picked out of the large areas of pastoral land remaining. Tet there are thousands of persons who are in search of land, and who, year after year, fruitlessly endeavor to gratify their desire to become produoicg colonists. Can anyone wonder, in the face of legislation that places men of small means and political influence at tuch great disadvantage, that people are leaving the co'ony in thousands ? Why does not the Government, now that they are aware of a flaw in the Aot of 1887 that permits capitalists to add to their landed possessions in a manner that was never contemplated by Parliament, take steps to remove Bach a blot from our land : legislation ? It is no excuse for Mr Richardloa to say that it cannot be done at this stage of the session. It is never too late to do that which is right, and Parliament onght not to be dismissed till it has been done. If the Government do not do this, every member of it will be deemed a party to a disgraceful transaction,