THE LAND COMMISSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 16

THE LAND COMMISSION.

EVIDENCE AT BALCLUTHA.

VISIT TO BARNEGO.

£Bx Oite Special Repobtek.)

BALCLUTHA,

March 23.

The members of the Land Commission paid an early visit to a portion of the Barnego Settlement this morning. They inspected some of the low-lying ground, on which there are splendid crops of turnips, mangels, and oats. The land in this locality is flat, and subject to flood. "The drainage is ineffective. When the river is high the culverts are blocked, and the surplus water has no chance of escape. The soil was voted to be of first-class quality, and the rent fair. Fences and buildings are good in all cases, considering the comparatively brief time the tenants have been in occupation, and compared favourably with those in "^the surrounding district. A meeting was held at Balelutha at 9 .o'clock, when quite a number of settlers and others were in attendance. , John Christie, farmer, Warepa, and chairman of the Clutha branch of the Farmers' Union, said his farm of 900 acres was freebold. At the meeting of the branch held on Wednesday night, at which 20 members were present, the following resolutions were carried, in some caEes by a large majority : — (1) " That this meeting is in favour of elective Land Boards." Personally, that was not his view. He believed in the Land Boards as at present constituted. The Crown tenants would like to elect snmfo"" *<-> represent them on the board. (2) " That the meeting is in -favour of freenold wiki the right of purchase." Tenants should have the right to, pay off as they went along, their rents being reduced accordingly. He did not mean to say that the people should borrow outside to buy the land. They should have a lease to begin with, and pay off as they went on. (3) "That this meeting is in favour of the single, ballot." Te single ballot was the old system, and the meeting strongly supported It. The grouping was the objection, because under it a person was compelled to ' take up the section he drew — a section, perhaps, that he would not have selected «,t any price, — or else he had to forfeit his deposit. If a farmer's heart was not in the •section he drew he would rather have nothing to do with it. As far as his own evidence on land matters was concerned, he agreed with what Mr Donald Reid had said in Dunedin. Witness produced a copy of the Otago Daily Times with a report of Sir Reid's evidence.

In answer to questions, witness said that there were several of the Barnego settlers in the Farmers' Union, and three or four of them were at the meeting on Wednesday night. Clifton and Hilfend were suitable lands in the district for cutting- up. Boyd's Estate ought to have been cut up long ago. Clydevale was also suitable for cutting up. A.s far as he had heard, the Barnego Settlement had been a success. There was a email village settlement at Warepa Bush which had been a partial success, but the areas were too small to give a man a living. A.t Wednesday's meeting there were 20

persons present, 16 or 17 of whom were freeholders. He had no idea how many Crown tenants were in the district.

In answer to the Chairman, Mr.'Barron said there were 24- Crown tenants on Barnego.

Witness said he believed the Barnego men who were at the meeting were there to represent the settlement. In reply to further questions, he stated that men put more work and more improvements on to their land when it was their own. The Crown tenants who were at the meetingwere in favour of the right of purchase. He had heard -that some of the Barnego sections had been valued at too high a, figure. The freehold farms were better farmed than the leasehold. Of course, there were some men who could never be farmers, and who should never have taken up land at all.

Mr Anstey : We saw some splendid crops of turnips on the Barnego Settlement this morning. Do they grow better turnips on the freehold?— Perhaps they might not have such good land.

Do they put up as good buildings as we saw on the estate this morning? — I do not believe in a man encumbering himself too much at the start. It is not a healthy sign to see a man going in for very substantial buildings.

In reply to Mr Forbes, witness said he did not think that if the freehold were given half the number of settlers on Barnego would be bought out. The very fact of improvements being put an would makp the land so dear that another man would not buy. TS"o person wanted a farm with half a dozen homesteads on it. Crown tenants had a grievance as far as roading ' was concerned. They were being loaded for roads that they were npt getting. He thought the province might be divided into wards, a man being nominated by the Government from each ward. There were 100 members in the local branch of the Farmers' Union.

Mr M'Cardle : Are the colours well mixed in your branch, or are you all of one colour? — I think the colours are well mixed.

Mr J. W. Wilson, secretary of the Clutha branch of the Farmers' Union, said that his views had been fully expressed by Mr Christie.

Alexander Stevenson, a Barnego settler, said he held 115 acres on lease in perpetuity, paying lls per acre. JETe was the original settler on the estate. He was satisfied with the tenure, and had found that the land was worth the rent. He would like to see an alteration in the constitution of the Land Board. If there were seven members on it three should be Crown tenants nominated by the Government. He also complained of the loading of the estate for roading. Tenants had had to make some roads afe their own expense.

Mr Johnston: We have been told that freeholders farm their land better than Crown tenants. What is your experience? — The tenants have certain restrictions that they must work up to or they walk out, and they must keep the-jr lands up to the standard of the freeholders' land. Do yon know some freeholders for whom it would be beneficial if they had something to beep them np to the mark?— No doubt The-re are some freeholders who might d*o better. I=* answer to further Questions, witness

i said the tenants would urefer the freehold

to the leasehold if they were allowed eondi- , tions on which to purchase. The rangers ' did not trouble the tenants. The tenants | had regulations to work up to, and as they j observed the regulations they were not disj turbed. The settlers had not been given an opportunity to do general work on the estate. They had applied for it. j Mr Paul: Is Barnego a success? — I believe i it is, taking it all over. There is oue section j vaoa.nt at the present time. I Have any settlers left the estate since it t began? — Only one. He applied for a surrender, which the board refused. I believe 1 the board has the case still under oou-

sideration. The man has left the section. j How does the price of land on Barnego compare to-day with the price five years ago? — No doubt it has gone up in value . through the exertions of the settlers. My I section is worth more to-day than it was . five years ago. j Further questioned, witness said that surrounding circumstances had no doubt increased the selling value of the land. He would like to acquire the freehold at the original valuation. Under his lease he was compelled to reside on his section for 10 j years. After that time residence was not ! compulsory. He thought that any man who resided on his land for 10 years should have the right of purchase at the original valuation, because it was by his own exerI tion he had made the land what it was.

Revaluation would only hamper the tenant. I The Crown tenants were asking for the freehold because it was their desire to have it. They were not being stirred up for [ political purposes by anybody outside their own number. They 'had met of their own 1 accord before the Farmers' Union meeting, j Herbert Clark, settler at Barnego, agreed j with the evidence given by the previous witness. He did not approve of the second ; ballot. He had 112 acres, for which he 1 paid 11s per acre. Some of the sections j were subject to 1 floods. He would like to , have the option of the freehold. There was ! Californian thistle in the district, but the j settlers made efforts to keep it down. He did not think be could sell out his section f to-day at a premium. The Government had j broken faith; with the settlers in not jproj viding roads for them as promised. H© | was a member of the Farmeis' Union. Other Barnego settlers were also in the union. In reply to the Chairman, Mr Christie said that there were four Barnego settlers

■ in the membership of the union j Mr Paul : So that, instead of those resolutions being the opinions of the Crown tenants, they are tiie opinions of freeholders I in the district? j Witness: No, they express our own J opinions, apart from the views of the union, j We had a meeting ourselves, which all the I settlers attended. In reply to another question by Mr Paul, the witness admitted' that the State was entitled to a portion of the unearned incre- ! ment in land. I Mr Matheson: Your farm has gone up j in value owing to the general advance of the ! district as well as by your own labour? — 1 Have the values of town businesses also gone up o^nig to that general advance? — ! Most decidedly. ' Do you think the State is entitled to a

portion of the merchant's business which has increased in \alue through the general advancement of the district? — No.

Then why is it entitled to a portion of the value of your farm which has advanced in the same way? — The witness's reply to this question was not clear.

Is it not a fact that all town values have increased ay a result of the work of the country settler? — Yes.

Charles Shand said that ho and his family held about 1800 acres at Upper Barnego. He considered that the settlement was baclly valued. A petition had been sent to Parliament asking for a reduction of rent. One settler — a hard-working man — left recently. Land on the Roxburgh Station was not valued so high as the Barnego sections. For himself he would sell his place to any member of the commission tomorrow if they would give him what he had paid out on it

Several questions were put to the witness, but as time was* pressing they were cut short.

The Chairman said he was sorry that time was so limited. If any other person present was anxious to give evidence ho would have an opportunity to do so in Dunedin, on Monday and Tuesday next.

The commission travelled south by the express train to Clinton.