THE LAND HUNGER. Wellington, September 19.

Otago Witness, Issue 2170, 26 September 1895, Page 11

THE LAND HUNGER. Wellington, September 19.

At tho Land Board to-day there was a large attendance at the ballot for aeotions. The Commissioner (Mr Baker), addressing the applicants, said that the Urge attendance showed what a demand there wa6 for land. The applications numbered 400. Ther« was only oue application for a cash section, but there were 166 for leases in perpetuity acd 233 for land for occupation with tho right of purchase. This showed that occupation with the right of purcb.lßo was the favourite »jst«m. There wore 30 c ingle applications, and those who had put them iv would receive their sections. For each of lhe other teotions there was an average of 45 »ppl:cant«, and for ono particular section the applicants cumbered 79. There were a Urge number of whfct he might call funiily aoplicatious made by each member <.f a family. That might or might Lot bo legitimate. Tne law »\liowod a father to put iv appl cations on behalf of his children, but the land mmt be for them. Tho ptnalty for making a false declaration wag very severe, and auy persoa making such a declaration was liable to a flue not exceeding £200, or to impri.-onment. One of the applications, he said, was informal, as it wa« not signed by the pewou who had sent it in. The form was, however, signed by a justice of th* peace as having been signal bafoio him, aud ib would be his (the nommis--ionet'f) duty (o call the attention of the Miui«ter for Juelioo to the fact. If it was found th*t the justice hud Digncd wilfully he w«,uld have a good chance of going off the be-nch.