AGRICULTURAL LEASES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2001, 29 May 1868, Page 5

AGRICULTURAL LEASES.

(To the Editor of live Otaoo Dai t.y Tunas Sir—l see the real question, as botween the agricultural and pastoral intcrcßß) t v&^w; the advociifcs of Bmall squatter* on tho Goldfields, has at last b cun btonohod in tho Council, on'the motion- of Mr Mount, which was to th& effect that tho agrie.iltural.lease system o£ the x Goldfiolds bo oxtended to the Himdfetfs. There is a chance nowof this question being ?decided on its merits. I maintain that-tho agricultural lease system is the moat improvident ono that can well be devised for settling tne lands. It brings in no revenue to speak of/; it Is strictly class, .legislation, and encourages only tho iaar» of little or n<» means, to squat over a largo area, thus the remainder of the land valueless for sale or occupation. It means a. .largo demand for expenditure on roads to Mich lands, with no. revenue to mcut the expense If the system is good for the residents on Goklfekls ,t « goo-l *<* tho settles*, m Hundreds. Now, £ shou]d li]{e }mf)W what wouia 1)0 tlie present positiosuof the Province, if it had fl i() d ym ft rovenuc fl h a J vsfccm . No doltbt it } s pleasant to the recipients th&t land \ } v b o Wftined for nothing. lu t the nfc of All fe Wand B i,n Wß . tho policy to be a disastrous one to the l /ij' P x b ; Hew . that t]lo SVRtcm o f dealing with the land undor the Otogo.Waato L;vnds A^. j (l ftS that in oporfttion j n any )W b%f New Zealand, or of t{ie A«strstlian Colonies. It places m H m^rj^a fopm time to timesuch lands as aro reqjut-ed. for settlement,, within which; theie.ia frpe selection, with the right of pasturage to tlio purchasers over tho nna ol4-portion.. The remainder of the lands arojeased for pastoral purposes, with the p^oxision that ihesa leases determine on fa i x months' notice from, the Goxcrjimeiifc,. y ia t \^q lands are wanted for HundrcfJs. This system is simple. 'It brings in tw .^rgo revenue, both from saloa of laudaaad pastoral rents, and an experience o£ twenty years has proved its iwvantage to the settlers. Arp wo., to' grve up tltis schemo of deling with the^iids in favor of that crude, one cdnt«||ned' in the Gold— fields Act? •v > •' :\ re- I see r». reason why the Hoanvea syatem should not bb in operation on the Goldft^lds. It appears "abaurd .that four his ancl a-Jialf millions of ficros h)tnvft& »c exempt from the operation of the land tow j of the Province, on thb ground »»■ : portion of Ujis great arjiais avmferona «- :• MqM W.§4»y, wvtex 'W' ts*™***^

mining clauses of the Wjwte Lands Act, to reserve from ealo eueh lands as arc known tv bo atiriferftin.

I should like to be informed why auriferous Linda should not be sold. I believe that all landu, whether tilled or mined, are better in tho hnndn of private parties than in possession of tho Government.—! am. &c. Oi,d Hrttlkil