CANTERBURY RUNS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14686, 20 November 1909, Page 11

CANTERBURY RUNS.

: _ QUESTION OF TENURE. MATTER TO BE SETTLED BY PARLIAMENT. (From Ous Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, November 19. A deputation of Canterbury members waited on the Prime Minister to-day in his capacity as .Minister' of Lands' regarding the Canterbury runs. Sir Win. Steward explained the position. After referring to the fact that a. commission had sent in a report and a minority report on the subject, and that an official commission was now inspecting tho runs with a view to their bring cut up for closer settlement, ho said the deputation wished to urge that in cases where the runs could be satisfactorily worked in small areas they should be subdivided. They also wished that some provision should be made in regard to greater security of tenure, so that the capacity of the runs should not bo allowed to deteriorate. The lessees under the prceenfc conditions cotdd not bo expected to spend much money in improvements. A man had at pHsont to lake his chance of securing a renewal at oublic auction. He thought a fair valuation should bo provided for, and that a lessee should in the event of the cutting up of a run be allowed to at all events secure a renewal of that portion of the run on which his homestead was. In regard to the official commission that was now inspecting the runs, it had been stated that they ivould not be able to bring down their report for about, two months, so that there would not be time to deal with the matter this session.

Mr Craigie referred to the enormous loss of sheep during the winter time on the Mackenzie Country runs. He believed that in all 7000. sheep had been Icet during different winters. If. the runs were smaller tho stock would be better looked after, and this loss would be greatly reduced. The kases would bo falling in in February, so that prompt action was necessary. Ho agreed that a man should have the option of renting the lease of the portion of the run on which his homestead was situated.

Mr Taylor said he was anxious to see a bigger population located on these lands. He was entirely opposed, howto tho suggestion that a. preemptive right should be given to lessees in connection with the homestead areas, because in nearly every case in this instance the homesteads were in the occupation, of dummies and not in occupation by the lessees or by their families. The majority of the homesteads on these runs had practically been abandoned by the lei-sees, who were residents in the towns or the cities. Sueb people should have no prior right over those who were prepared to pay the valuation for improvements. He also urged that Parliament should have an opportunity of seeing the report sent in by the commissioners. Mr Forbes said the commissioners' report would not have the value it ought to have, because, the country to be inspected was strange to the men appointed to inspect it. There was one place in North Canterbury where they spent only two days in inspecting 75,000 acres of rough country. In regard to the subdivision of such country the utmost care should be exercised. The Government should have called in a local adviser. He agreed that tho man in occupation should have priority of claim. One reason for this was that the man who had been working such difficult country for a number of years would be likely to work it to much better advantage than a stranger. He disagreed with the remark of Mr Taylor that this country would carry a large population. The population of the Mckenzie Country for all time would be a small one. He thought the Government ehould rather concentrate its efforts upon the level and better class lands of the Dominion than upon those bare hills. In regard to the Mackenzie Country runs he thought they should only be relet (o men who did "not hold other lands. He knew one man who was one of the largest landholders in that part of the country, That man, for instance, should not have his holding further increased.

Mr Taylor said there were only five out of' 18 of the Mackenzie runholders who were dependent .upon their pastoral leases for their income.

Mr Anstey, M.L.C., said that under the present system of leasehold the country referred to was deteriorating. He felt that the country was capable of very much better use than it was now put to. and added that it \va6 very important to cut it up scientifically, giving to each run a portion of the' safe as well as the unsafe lands. When it was cut up in this way it should be let upon a more secure tenure than at present. As to the homesteade, it was no wonder there were so few of the lessees living there under the present insecurity of tenure. He believed the productivity of the Mackenzie country could be easily doubled with secure tenure. They should insist on residence. They could not have dummyisni. Another point he made was that it should be a condition of the new leases that each lessee should plant a certain area in trees. In such a bare country this would be extraordinarily advantageous. If it were found to be impossible to legislate this year he suggested that the lessees should have their leases extended for a vear.

The Prime Minister, 'in reply, said the matter was a very important one, He

would not like to • hurry tho commission that w,i6 inspecting the runs, because it. was very important. that the work should be thoroughly done. Tho present commission was closely cxaminaing the country with a view to seeing if it could be subdivided in the interests of closer settlement. As to tenure, there were certain provisions in the Land Bill regarding it. A great deal could be said on both sides as to the right of renewal. It would certainly be better to secure improvements than to have deterioration, That was a point which the Government would endeavour to make. If he could not obtain the necessary information from the official commission now examining the nui6 intimo for Parliament to act this session, he thought it would be a reasonable thing to extend the present leases for 12 months. There was a great diversity of opinion about the hill country in Canterbury.

Mr Taylor said that it might be necessary to acquire some of the adjacent flat lands to help in connection with the cutting up of the runs. Mr Anstey said there might be soma complications in connection with the freehold sections on the runs held bv the present lessees.

The Prime Minister replied that the Government could not pay high prices lor. freehold lands to add them to runs. If they did take any land it would have to bo taken at a fair valuation.