SETTLEMENT ON THE LAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 1148, 29 November 1873, Page 21

SETTLEMENT ON THE LAND.

The following is the extract from the speech made by the Hon. Dr. Menziea in the Legislative Council on moving the second reading of the Otago Waste Lands Bill, Oct. 2, 1872, referred to hi our leading columns to-day :—: —

Some new provisions had been introduced which, he believed, were not to be found in other New Zealand Land Laws. They had been taken from Victorian Acts. The principal point of difference was the system of sale, of alienation of land by lease or license on deferred payments, and that would be a question which no doubt would be carefully considered in the Council. The provisions which were embodied in the Bill had been modelled for the most part from Victorian Acts, which, he had been informed, had worked with success in that Colony. The promoters of the Bill conceived that a great impetus to the industrial settlement of the country would be given if this particular mode of facilitating settlement was adopted, inasmuch as many persons possessed of a moderate amount of capital would have it absorbed by the purchase of land, if they were to settle upon it by direct purchase in the ordinary way, whereas, by retaining their capital for the time, they might apply it, so as to be able to make a livelihood until they had cultivated a sufficient quantity of land either, to purchase the freehold or extend their possessions. The small capitalists possessed only £100 or £200 ; if obliged to expend probably half of that in purchasing land, would be prevented from making such improvements as would be necessary, and be consequently crippled in their progress : whereas, if their capital were free to be applied to increasing the value of tbe leasehold, which it would be in the first instance under the plan proposed, and obtaining stock, they might, hi two or three years, attain a comparatively independent pesition, and be enabled to acquire the freehold in a very short time. He was aware that it would be said, on the other hand, that the precedent was a dangerous one, and that it was calculated to create a class of Government debtors, whose action in times of poetical excitement night be ap«

plied hi a dangerous way. No doubt there was some truth in that ; hut he apprehended that the proceedidgs under the provisions of this Bill would be of a tentative character. If honourable members would look at the provisions of the Bill, they would see that the danger was less than they might suppose at fitst blush — seeing that the debtors — those who held the lands under those provisions — would not stand in the light of Provincial debtors. The Province would sell them the land, but having sold the land, its officers would not be further concerned in the recovery of the rents or of the final purchase money. It was proposed that the Receiver of Laud Revenue, who is an officer of the General Government, should receive the rents and the final payment in the same way as he now received the land revenue. Therefore, even supposing that the class should become numerous, they would not be able to bring any specific pressure to bear upon Provincial elections. The Province would not be the suing creditor, but an officer of the General Government— the Receiver of Laud Revenue — who could withhold the Crown Grant until any arrears that might be due had been paid.