FREEHOLD v. LEASEHOLD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2603, 3 February 1904, Page 73

FREEHOLD v. LEASEHOLD.

POSITION IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

(Fkom Oxra Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, January 30. In view of the, present agitation in New Zealand against t)s& granting of freehold to Crown tenants, some remarks made by Mr Justice Parker, of Western Australia, to a Truth reporter yesterday upon the system .prevailing in that colony wilL be of particular interest.

His Eonor explained that th&re was a land for settlements system in operation somewhat similar to that prevailing in New Zealand, but the Government, he thought, lhad no power to acquire estates compulsorily. No difficulty, however, was experienced in obtaining sufficient land, and the process of purchasing, cutting up, and settling was going on continually. A man •selects his block, w Inch h© pays for at th© rate of 10s an acre, the payment being .spread over 20 annual payments of 6d per acre. Having completed his 20 payments <md effected, certain improvements, the settler has granted to him the absolute freehold of his land. About 3000 acres is the nfximum of land allowed to a Government cutler. Mr Justice Parker said be did "ou think the people in "Western Australia would bs at all satisfied ith the leasehold system, for each v -dcr was animated by a l&sire to own

- freehold, and it was in consequ&nee of i -cttl&r being able to satisfy that desire >. n the land settlement policy had proved * vJa a success. Not a word of complaint ted bo&n heard from anybody concerning *;he granting of the freehold to the settlers. ACLa jsi-atem bad starJc^d. majajifj-canAiv^ .aoid,

farmers from a'l the surrounding colonies were eagerly taking up Government land in Western Australia.

Speaking upon the present state of Perth and the surrounding country, Mr Justice Parker said that in. consequence of the extensive, development of the gold industry the value of town property was increasing enormously, and ono man who a few years ago had bought a section for £400 sold it recently for no loss than £10,000. The city also is fully equipped with elcctrio trams, electric lighting, and all modern municipal conveniences. Last year the gold exported amounted in value to nine million pounds, averaging about £3 por head of population. The population of the colony had, after the gold rush, risen from 60,000 to 230,000, and in consequence the prices of all sorts of foodstuffs and produce were so high as to return a handsome profit to the farmer.