THE NEW LAND REGULATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 805, 12 September 1864, Page 5

THE NEW LAND REGULATIONS.

DEPUTATION TO HIS HONOR TH-i5

SUPERINTENDENT.

On Saturday, at noon, a deputation, consisting of Messrs John Jones, of Waikouaiti, J Douglas, F. Fulton, James Fulton, of West Taieri, Charles Trail, of Oaraaru, J. H. M'Lean, (on behalf of Matthew Holmes), and Mr Wrigh t (of Wright, Robertson and Co,), waited up«n his Honor the Superintendent for the purpose^ of requesting him, if possible, to postpone the time for bringing the new Laud Regulations into effect.

Mr Douglas, addressing his Honor the Superintendent, said : Our errand here to-day is with inspect to the new Land Regulations, which are to come into effect on the 2'Jth of this month. Since the Bill was brought f irward in the Council circumstances have changed, and we are of opinion that before it is put in force, the Council should have an opportunity of reconsidering the Bill, and we have come to ask that you should endeavour to delay the action of the Bill until the Council reconsiders it, and the country has had an opportunity of expressing an opinion upon it. We are of opinion that the new Regulations being jfought into force at the present time would disturb the iand sales, and the country will suffer much from this cause, because when the land is not being sold the circulation of money throughout the country is disturbed. There also seems to be a doubt in some men's minds as to whether the Crown has the power to compel those who have originally bought land to pay a t.ix on it. I refer to those who purchased land uader the present regulations. The Superintendent: They can elect to take one of the three courses provided by the Bill, and if they elect to take the position ot paying the tax it is perfectly legal. Mr Doughs: When the new Act was passed it was felt to be very difficult to bring it to bear upon those who bought their land under the doubt. They took the benefit of that doubt, and they now think the Government ought to take steps to clear that ooubt away. . The Superintendent : My doubt is that it there is n-> compulsion to pay the tax I do not think the land can be "forfeited, for non-com-pliance. Ido not really think the Government can put the Act into force thoroughly. I have no doubt that, before many years are over ouv heads, thers will be another change in the Laad Regulations, and there will then be a moainw ■ tion of *he Act which provides for the tax.

In answer to questions, The Superintended said: The Act has besn passed both by the Provincial Council aad Ghiieral Assembly. It had been sent home and assented to by the Queen, and the Governor has intimated bis intention to put it in fores on the 20 th of tliis month. 1 cannot well see ho w I can do anythisig in the matter. If I cjuld sea any good grounds for delaying the operation of the Act, I would do it, but there ara no great public objects to be gained. The new Regulations must have a trial. Vufc what the result of that trial may be I cannot say: it appeare to me that in their present shape they will ba very unworkable. Mr*J. Jones: Those who have purchased under the old Land Regulations are perfectly safrf The Superintendent : That has to be tried yet by an action ia the Supreme Court, and if it was necessary that the result of this action should be known before the new Regulations are put in force, it would at least take twelve or eighteen months, because the decision, whatever'that maybe, will be referred Home; and there can be no doubt that it will ultimately have ■to be decided by the Privy Council. The Govet nment have rea-on n>t to be satisfied with any decision short of that on such averyimpoitmt question. This would be delaying tb.3 operation of the Act for eighteen months, and the Governor might not feel justified m so Mi-Douglas: He might not feel justified in doing that, but he might delay it until tbe Provincial Council meets again. The Superintendent : The opinion of the country will be known far better in a little time after the new Regulations are put into operation. My own impression is that it will cause a practical suspension of the land sales for sometime; but looking at this from one point of view, it would be a benefit to the country, fur I think there has been too much land sold lately. lam in favor of some slight tax on land, rather than to sell it at a low rate) aud not give the purchasers a title until they comply with certain conditions. It would be better to sell it at a higher rate and tive a good title at once. TJadur this Act it is proposed to tax the land from the moment of purchase, but this should not be until the purchaser has had an opportunity of commencing some improvements upon it, perhaps for s^me eighteen months after the purchase. How could any man from the first moment of purchase lay out L 2 an acre on his land 1 It is impossible; and my opinion is that some modification of the Bill which provides for the tax will be found absolutely necessary. The new Regulations are divided into two separate bills—oae providing for the tax, and the other (or the purchase. One may be repealed without touching the other, and I am convinced there must be a modification of the bill providing, for the tax. But before ibis should be done it would only be fair to the Provincial Council and the General Assembly that the Act should be put into op^'a; tion for a time to see how it wilt work ; and I cannot see how anything could ba gamed by postponing its operation, unless it would be t > give parties an unlimited opportunity of. purchasing land before the new Regulations come into force. ' . *i. Mr Douglas: That is according to the wants of the Government. ..,',.-',.' The Superintendent : I consider that it the new Regulations are put in force, say for three years, land purchased ua er the present Regu* lations would be worth 50 per cant, more thsn that purchased under the new Regulations. Mr Douglas : There cannot be a doubt about it ■ . ~ The Sctebintendbnt : Ido not think it would be well for the Government to take steps to postpone the new Regulations coming into force. It would look as if the Government were trying to defeat the Land Regulation*. When does the mail leave for Auckland % Mr Douglas : The mail left this morning. The Superintendent : Then there is no opportunity \of communicafcidg with Auckland before the Act comes into operation. Mr J. Jones : I think the Government will be the sufferers, not the ountry. The ■gui'KRiNTSNDENT : The Act will certainly have the eflect of locking up the lanrl for some months to come. After all it ia only raising the price of land psr acre. The object of the new Act is to compel improvements to be made on the land, but I think it is only fair to give the pur chaser a chance of making these improvements before a tax is levied on his land. However, I think the old purchasers are pretty safe. Thase new regulations cannot be said to apply to land which could be called pastoral land. If the pastoral lands of the Province are ever thrown open for sale, it must be under' very different regulations After some further conversation, The Superintendent said: I must say I can see no good grounds for delaying the operation of the Act. Bat 5t is too late now. If it had not been too labe I would have been happy to have communicated your opinions to the Governor, but I do not see what good could come of it. One of the Deputation : There is no doubt the Bill was hurried through the General Assembly. The Superintendent : It was passed in terms of resolutions of the Provincial Council, with some very slight modifications. I think there is nothing for it now but to put it in force aud see wh;>t the working of it is, and if it is not workable, the public will soon cry out cgainstit and ask for some alteration in it. Mr J. Jones : The reason why no cry has been raised against it already, was the belief in the

public mind that it never would receive the sanction of the Home Government,—it was so absurd on many pints. The fcuPERiNTENDKNT: Tint is a matter ot opinion. It is the result of the united deliberations both of the Provincial Coaucil and the General Assembly. I am not very sanguine of the success of the new regulations; but at the same time, ought to give them a fair trial. 1 think it is necessary that they should be put into foice before the meeting of the Council in orcer that some discussion may be raised upon them Of course, the operation of these regulations will never bs felt until they are really put in force. Mr L'ouglas : The only fear is, that after they once becwne law it will be very difficult to rescind them.

The Superintendent : Then that would be an argument in favor of the regulations as they stand. It would show, at all events, that thsy are not so very bad. Ido not think the Governor woald feel himself justified it> withdrawing the Proclamation for any length of time. lam inclined to think that the objectors to the measure will have stronger grounds for their objections when the Act comes into operation j and if it is tit* n proved to be unworkable or unsuitable to the condition of the country, it will vary soon be made out. The Commissioner of Grown Lands informs me that he will require six or seven additional clerks, and two bookkeepers, to put the new regulations into force. Mr J. Jones : A good reason why they should not be put in force at the present time. The deputation, haying thanked the Superintendent for the interview, then retired.