OUR LAND SYSTEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4163, 22 June 1875, Page 3

OUR LAND SYSTEM

TO the editor. Si a —Mr Connell is doing good service to the public in calling attention to the administration of the waste lands of this Province. If what he stated at the last meeting of the Waste Lands Board is correct—namely, thiit during the last year about 100,000 acres were thrown open under the deferred payment system, instead of 30,000 acres, as fixed by law—it is a most daring violation of the Land Act by the Provincial Government. There is also the plan adopted of scattering deferred payment sections through the hundreds in such manner as to prevent persons desirous of purchasing- outright acquiring more than a few hundred acres. This lis an innovation on onr land laws, and never contemplated at the passing of the Act, and there is reason to doubt the legality of the process. The policy seems to be to discourage all but small farmers from settling in this Province, which, I submit, will not tend to the early development of its resources, but -will have the effect of driving capital to other parts of New Zealand, where less restrictive land laws are in operation. The principles which governed the original colonizing operations of the Colony, and paiticularly in the settlements of Canterbury and Otago, were, that the country should offer inducements for all classes, and that capital and labour should go hand in hand. The problem now endeavoured to be worked out here, is to colonise by labour without capital, and to discourage persons -who may desire to settle themselves in the country on holdings commensurate with their means. j The process of setting aside blocks of land on

runs for stttlement is also-worthy of notice. A few inhabitants in an up-country township desire a piece of pastoral land, ~no\v under lease,for commonage ; a petition is got up and sent to their member in the Provincial Council; who presents it, and brings forward a motion that ifc is desirable that a block for settlement be taken up on run so and so. Without argument, generally, it is carried, no enquiry being made into \ the necessities of the ease, or as to how it will j affect the value ef the Provincial estate. As this system progi esses, the eyes of the country are picked out, hnd the carrying capacity for sheepwool bi-iligoul-inain export—greatly diminished, with tlie result that cattle are depastured on the block instead of sheep* Tliis is done at the expense of the general public, w l lo in effect purchase a small run for the petitionee. A few days ago the usual forltiifla was gone through, asking for a block- fo*' settlement (pasturage) near Cly<V,- and yesterday it was carried in the Council, most of the members, probably in happy ignonwice that reasonable wants of this district xre provided for by a commonage of 13,000 acres of the best pastoral land in those parts, while the Executive apparently did not consider it wortili while to enlighten tlie Council on the matter.I am at a lo.^s to understand how such fnenihers .is Messrs Clark, M'Kenzie, and notably Mr Reid, can explain to their constituents the principle on which they vote large sums of money raised out of scant revenues —sorely needed for public works within the districts- : they represent—for the purpose of purchasing ; commonage for small digging townships, gene- ! rally to be enjoyed by one or two knowing '. fellows who get up the movement, ■ or, as I believe to be more frequently the case, for the particular benefit of some retired butcher or dealer in stock, who desires a piece of choice grazing country en which to carry on liis operations, and is clever enough to get a petition signed by a score or twoof obliging friends, and presented to the Council by the complacent member for the district. We occasionally see that on the opening of a deferred payments block there area mimberof applications for certain sections, from which it is argued, by the promoters of that system, that it shews the necessity for an increased quantity of land being thrown open. This would be true if the whole, or a large portion, of each block was taken up; but seeing that the great run is on a few sections, it ou shews that these are of special value, and if put to auction would fetch a good price, instead of being scrambled for by lottery. The leaders of the land movement here seem to think that only under the complex and restrictive Waste Lands Act of Otago, can ■pro; er settlement be promoted. T vesture to think tliat were the Canterbury land laws in operation here, greater progress, and a much better settlement on the lands would take place, and we would be free from that constant turmoil -.nul heart burn, which sets class against class, and which, I fear, will continue until a more simple land law is passed, and that can be administered on fixed principles, instead of rule of thumb and political exigencies.—l am, &.C, C'OI.OXIST.

A VERY HARD CAS]':. TO THK KDITOIi. Sii:—Will you kindly allow me to make a few remarks upon the Keport of the Private Petitions Committee "in-the matter of Alfred H. Keene,'' and which appeared in the daily papers of the Bth inst. My remarks may be stroll" hut they are certainly not half as strong as the injustice of the case deserves. My petition, which simply prayed that my name should be placed upon the list of authorised surveyors, and demanded justice at the hands of the Provincial Council, was referred to the Private Petitions Committee. This Committee, in the iirst instance, decided the ca.se against me, without ever asking me what my complaint was, or, in fact seeing- me, or anybody belonging to me, on the subject. The ca.se wa.s then supposed to be shelved. It was, however, brought again before the Council by the member for Mount Ida, and the injustice done to me was so glaring, that the petition was referred back to the Committee, in order that they should take my evidence. What do you imagine, Mr Editor, that this noble Committee then did ? They, in the first place, recalled Mr Thomson aud Mr M'Kerrow, and asked them if they had any further charges to make against me. These gentlemen of course had further charges to make, and numerous sheets of foolscap were added to their former evidence. When this was accomplished I was called upon to state my case. I opened my case by producing my qualifications, which consisted of a certificate of competency from the Board of Lauds and Works, Melbourne : and further, having passed au examination before Mr J. T. Thomson in 18(i.i. The Committee informed me that they did not desire to see them, as they admitted my qualifications. I was then somewhat at a loss how to proceed, as I was not aware what charges had been aililiirie.il aframut me. 1 gave evidence on a few professional matters, and wound up by stating- that I could not defend myself against any charges against my moral character unless I knew what the charges were. Messrs Thomson and M'Kerrow's evidence was then read over to me. and I must confess that I was somewhat staggered, for if half of what I was charged with weie true, I should be a fit subject for a lunatic asylum. The principal charge wa.s made hy Mr Thomson, aud -was to the effect that I was rolling drunk in an up-country hotel some eight years ago. and where we both spent the night. I could only give these charges an emphatic denial, as I could not be expected to be pre--1 iared with evidence to rebut a charge which I did not know existed. My ea-se then closed. 'Smne two or three days later I heard that the Committee were raking up fresh charges against me, and I wrote to them, asking them in justice to myself, to write to two people who were present on the occasion of my alleged drunkenness, and who'would be able to satisfy the Committee that Mr Thomson's statement was not true. Now comes the cream of the joke. The Committee, instead of writing to the people whom I ]minted out, and who could have given evidence on my behalf, sent for Mr Thomson, showed him my letter, and asked him what he could say about it. This gentleman repeated his statement, and even added to it by stating that not only was I rolling drunk, but that t abused him. The Committee took further evidence from my friend Mr Pyke, which evidence I have not seen, and then brought in their verdict. The whole case then resolves itself into this. I have passed two examinations, liave veiy flattering testimonies from two magistrates and from Mr Vincent Pyke, and have been, practising as a surveyor and mining engineer for fifteen years ; and now, I am debarred from pi-ac-tisingmy profession simply because Mr Thomson says that I shall not do so. From petitioner I j was turned into defendant by my honourable judges. Not half the evidence given on the case have I ever seen ; and the Committee refused any evidence on my behalf which could have been of any service to me. If this is tlie sort of justice administered by the Provincial Council, God save the country ! I now hear that the Committee do not intend to print the evidence, thereby preventing me from taking my ca.-ie lief ore a jury of unprejudiced men. It is the only chance of justice which I have left ; ami it seems that the Council intend to prevent me from obtaining that justice. Seeing phiinlv how the case was going, I informed the Committee, after giving my evidence, that T should bring the matter before a Civil Court, and was at once informed that everything said before that Committee was in-ivileired. So that, in reality, Mr Editor, if such is the case, any person can ruin a- man's character and prospects before a Committee of the Provincial Council, and is amenable to no law. lam not imputing anything to MiThomson, for Mr Thomson is well-known to he lan honourable man. My judges, also, are ' honourable men. Men's minds, however, do ; not all run in the same groove, and some men are foolish enough to think that justice is 5 always meted out by honourable men. —I am, i &.C, i Alkkki-) H. TCkene, Mining Engineer.