THE LAND COMMISSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2674, 14 June 1905, Page 25

THE LAND COMMISSION.

I>ISiSATISFAOTION AT FEILDING.

THE NORTHERN SECTION.

TE AWAMUTU, June 5. 'A meeting of <the Land Commission at Eawhia on Saturday was largely attended by ' settlers from all over the district. The evidence was in favour of freehold, or lease with option' of purchase. The main question brought before the commission was the roading of Kawhia lands, and great dissatisfaction was expressed at the manner in iwhich the settlers had bsen treated by the Government in regard to roads. The evidence showed that although most of the settlers had been in occupation of their land for five years, the bulk of them were still ■without road access of any description. It /was generally conceded that it would bevery difficult to discover any unearned increment in the Kawhia distriot. "Witnesses also emphasised -the necessity for a speedy Solution of the Native land question. The area of unoccupied and unused Native land iwas greatly retarding the progress of the district. The present method of Native land administration was condemned. The commission got through here safely yesterday, after a very roug-h and wet journey.

OTOKOHANGA, June , 5. The Land Commission reached here by Bpecial train to-day. There was a very meagre attendance of settlers, whose evidence unanimously favoured freehold. The witnesses chiefly accentuated the necessity of dealing with the Native land question. It is greatly retarding the progress of settlement, and owing to the spread of noxious weeds is proving a menace to the whole 'district. The present method of Native land administration was condemned. TE KUITI, June 6. At the sitting of the Land Commission the evidence favoured the freehold, except that of a settler within the boundary of the Taranakf~land district, who said that 15 neighbouring settlers were well satisfied with the - lease in perpetuity, but as the surrounding block had been offered on an optional- tenure they should have the same privilege.

CAMBRIDGE, June 8. The Land Commission sat here last night, when about 40 or 50 settlers were present. The Crown tenants from the Fancourt, Kirapoi, and Whitehall Estates all favoured *he right of purchase except three of the former, ■who were satisfied with their leasee, although they suggested certain amendments in the law. Several, witnesses, representing the Farmers' Club, favoured the freehold. The commission has gone to Matamata.

• . STRATFORD, June 9. "Whangamomona settlers are forwarding to- the Land Commission a lengthy document setting forth that, owing to the commissioners' hurried trip, the settlers were deprived of the opportunity of voioing their views as completely as the South Islanders oid. They now lay their views before the commission in this form: — The settlers ask for the option of acquiring the freehold, on the ground ' that the lease in perpetuity is not equivalent to the freehold, as represented, and if the State still considers the lease in perpetuity superior to the freehold, at cannot honestly claim the price asked for ft phange of tenure. Several other reasonsare given to show the justice of the request for the freehold. The importance of pushing on the work of railway completion and loading is emphasised. AUCKLAND, June 12. The Commission sat at Auckland to-day. Mr Mackenzie, Commissioner of Crown (Lands, expressed the general opinion that the- constitution of land boards was a good one, but the number of members could be increased .with, advantage in a large district like Auckland. A nominated board would most" likely administer the land laws con- ' eistently with the policy of any Government of the day. On elective boards Crown ! tenants should elect 25 per cent, of the members. He favoured consolidating methods of tenure as far as possible under | the optional system (part 3, " Land Act. 1E92"), rather than introducing new forms of tenure improvement. The* residential conditions of the three tenures— conditional cash, 0.r.p., and l.i.p. needed to be more jipon one plane. He suggested that the i o.r.p. conditions should cover all. Dread of revaluation had caused more unrest amongst Crown tenants than anything else. •If confidence were restored on this point, and the tenure stripped of some of the • present •encumbrances, he believed the un- j easiness would disappear. Perpetual lease ■ should be granted only where minerals were | absent. The reintroduction of the home- j stead system within certain limits with large areas, would help to settle poorer lands. The lands for settlements schemes in ihe north had not been co gigantio as in ihe south because there were large areas of unimproved land still available in the north at lower rates than improved land could ibe offered for. There were 420 tenants of lands for settlement in the north, leasing 79,006 acres, at a, total rental of £17,767 per annum. All the settlements were fairly prosperous, some near Auckland specially bo. A number of workmen's homes had not been readily taken, up, and only 230 acres out of 996 acres of hamlets had been ; rtaken up. Numbers of Crown tenants en email holdings close to new estates opened ,up desired their residential conditions relaxed sufficiently to enable them to take i up sections of new estates for their sons. 9Je agreed with the resolution passed by the conference of Land Boards at Wellington, that under certain restrictions for the prevention of dummyisrn and the aggregation of large estates, residence could be postponed for seven years in all forest and "second-class land in the remoter dis'ftricts of the colony. This would be ©perated on only in certain »roclaim«d

blocks. The real object of this change would be, of course, to enable city people to take up land either for themselves or for thensons, and to effect necessary improvements before taking up permanent residence on the land. So far none of those who had criticised the ballot system had present <'-d to his mind any better way of sclectnn. He would suggest, however, that l<").d boards should be given power to examine all applicants before a ballot, and reject unsuitable applioants. The grouping of sections and the second ballot were strongly objected to in the Auckland district, and prevented good settlers from applying. He believed the substitution of examination instead would meet the case, and give greater satisfaction. He suggested that local bodies should be empowered to raise loans for road construction on the securing of thirds. Reports of the rangers showed that the Auckland settlers were making good headway, and many who started with nothing now had comfortable homes. To the Chairman : To some extent ihe large area of land held by Natives and <ho want of good roads were bars to the progress of settlement in the Auckland riovince.

Alfr-ed Sanford, a colonist of 40 years' experience, spoke in favour of the leasehold. No freeholds should be granted at less than their present values. In «-egard to borrowing, he believed that there had in the past been too much borrowing, and too little work.

Mr Brown said that with regard to the constitution of land boards he considered that the members of the boards should be elected, two-thirds by the Crown tenants, and one-third by the public through tha Government. In respect to tenures, he considered that the so-called freehold was a \ burden on farmers. He thought the lease-in-I perpetuity better than the freehold. The present system of balloting for land was in his opinion faulty, and he thought the policy of first come first served would be beneficial. He was in favour of l'evaluation at the death of the lessee. With amplifications, the old homestead system should, hi his opinion, be reintroduced. Mr Smith favoured the freehold., considering it to be the better tenure both for the State and for the people. He was of the opinion that there was no such thing cs unearned increment, especially in rural lands. Donald M'Kinnon supported the freehold, and said he believed in advances to settlers, as it helped towards greater prosperity and independence. He believed in the Govern- | ment giving the leas© to people with right of mirchase. Dr James Wallis spoke strongly in favour of the freehold. The sole ownership of land by the State had been tried in all ages, and Had ever failed. W. E. Cheal, surveyor, approved of the lease in perpetuity on the principle of the greatest good to the greatest number. He believed that the leasehold system had led to a great increase in settlement, and was thereby responsible for a great deal of the recent" large increase in the- exports of the colony. A further argument in favour of the leasehold was the .fact that the mineral rights should remain the property of the Crown. If the freehold were given it should be stipulated that these rights should remain in possession of the Crown. He approved oi the present constitution of the Land Boards, but thought the Government should exercise more discretion in the appointment of members. He objected to the present system of balloting on the ground that it opened the door to dumttiyism, and he Quoted instances, referring to i the fact that a man, after drawing a section and selling it again, sometimes reapplied under another name. He said that no man should be allowed tp take up more than one lease. M. G. Garland, a well-known city land agent, favoured the freehold. He said that he had acquired some freehold land so that he could hand it down to his children, because he considered that when a man held land in the country he had a stake in the country's interests. A number of other witnesses gave cvi denoe favouring the freehold tenure, or the leasehold with the right of purchase. The commission sat for seven hours, and examined over 20 witnesses. The commission leaves to-morrow morning for Te MASTERTON, June 12. The Land Commission sat here to-day. Six witnesses were examined, and all except Foster Percy, who holds 300 acres lease in perpetuity and 100 acres freehold, were in favour of the freehold. The five were lease-in-perpetuity tenants, and spoke strongly in favoiir of the freehold. Their chief complaint was the under-valuing of their improved areas an 3 the fact that they could not get loans to carry out necessary improvements except at an exorbitant rate of interest. All Mr Percy wanted was the Government to do its share of keeping the roads in repair. Some of the witnesses' spoke strongly against the administration ( of the Land Board.

SITTING ON A SUNDAY.

MANGAWEKA, June 5.

The unusual spectacle of a Royal Commission sitting on Sunday was witnessed at Taihape yesterday, when the Land Commissioners examined half a dcraen witnesses. Many people will no doubt consider this a flagrant violation of the Sabbath, but the commission looked upon their action as one of great urgency and necessity. Slips on both road and railway obliged the commissioners to remain at Mangaweka on Saturday night, and as the commission should have sat at Taihape that evening, according to programme, it was decided to keep faith with several witnesses who were expected from distances ranging from. 30 miles by hearing them on Sunday. The journey from Mangaweka to Taihape by coach was exceedingly trying, with cold rain and hail storms most of the way. Some of the commissioners were almost smothered by mud when they negotiated a big slip about three<aniles from Mangaweka. Others crossed the river at the bottom of the road on a line of logs, and by scaling the steep hill avoided a huge mud trap. Coaches were in waiting on the other side, and Taihape was reached at 1 p.m.

TAIHAPE, June 5.

The Land Commission met yesterday. The Chairman regretted that commissioners were compelled to sit on Sunday. There was only a small attendance of witnesses, the majority favouring the freehold. They opposed the constitution of Land Boards, v.bich should comprise farmers or those elected by them, as best understanding the conditions of land settlement. They strongly opposed the lesidence clause as unworkable where there were no schools or roads. The sitting occupied an hour,.

MANGAWEKA, June 6. The Land Commission here yesterday.

Mr Guthrie. holder of a lease-in-perpe-tuity section, said he represented the Farmers' Conference recently held at Wanganui, ateo the Marton small farm, settlements. Those he represented asked for the freehold and the right of purchase for Crown tenants. He favoured relaxation of the residential regulations, and asked for better classification of land.

Mr Marshall, chairman of the Rangitikei County Council, urged that local bodies should be granted larger borrowing powers, and that Lai.d Boards should give local bodies assistance in collecting rates from defaulting settlers Others' evidence favoured the freehold.

FEILDING, Juno 6.

The Land Commission is taking evidence here to-day. The evidence so far is all in favour of the freehold, the witnesses arguing that the leasc-in-perpetuity holders are at a great disadvantage in many respects as compared with freeholders. They also urged that the loading for roading should be expended by the local bodies. Regarding the ballot system, it was contended that colonials should be given preference over newcomers. The residential conditions should also be relaxed in order to encourage townspeople to take up land. It was definitely stated that dummyism takes place all over the country now, and could not be worse under the change. It was suggested that the difficulty would be got over if more improvements were required in place of residence.

The sitting of the Land Commission occupied four hours. A large number of settlers was in attendance, and nine witnesses were examined. Two favoured the leasehold, one preferred the lease in perpetuity as against tho freehold, and the rest all favoured the freehold.

G. Wheeler, the first settler on the Manchester block, considered that the settlers should have the choice of the freehold or leasehold. The Land "Boards^were pieces of machinery out of which he could get no satisfaction. He considered the tenants in Ireland under the landlords were better off than the leaseholder under the Government of New Zealand. G. Fergusson, Ohakune, who represented the farmers in that district, said he was in favour of the freehold. .. He was sorry the commission did-*ot sit in that locality. At this point ihe Chairman said it was time to close. Mr Vile, M.H.R., asked why, in the face of the fact that so much time had been given to the South Island, the commission was skipping the North Island? The Chairman explained that circumstances had arisen which made it necessary for the commission to get back as soon as possible. Mr Vile stated his intention of wiring to Mr Scddon for an explanation. At the conclusion of the meeting it was found that 53 farmers 'were willing to give evidence in favour of the freehold. There were loud cries of " Freehold for ever," and for sonic minutes there was qiiite an uproar-. A number of witnesses journeyed to Palmerston in an endeavour to give evidence there. *' PALMERSTON NORTH, June 6. The Land Commission sat here this afternoon and to-night, and heard a number of witnesses, whose evidence was principally in favour of the freehold. DANNEVIRKE, June 7. The Land Commission took evidence here to-day, i i v tinn J. A. Robertson, surveyor, holding 1100 acres in Mangatoro Special Settlement on lease in perpetuity, said he was satisfied with his tenure, but he had been asked by his neighbours to represent their views. They thought that one member of the Land Board should be elected by the settlers, and that all lessees should have the right of purchase. They considered the system of loading lauds for roads wrong, as it gave extra, value to the land, on which the local body rated. ' They objected to compulsory residence on back-blocks owing to the difficulty of obtaining a doctor's services except at enormous cost. To Mr Paul: Did not think the settlers proposed to pay the Government for the enhanced value if the freehold were granted. Thomas Stewart, farming 1400 acres freehold at Titree Point, favoured the freehold tenure, because the settler was more secure under that tenure, but he liked the Jea&e •wibh right to purchase. F. A. Cunningham, farming 1100 acres at Mangatoro, -said he was satisfied with his tenure on a small grazing vnn. He had been asked by the Farmers' Union to support the freehold. In answer to a question, witness admitted that the eettlers who had asked him to give evidence had not discussed the matter in all its bearings.

William Wylie, holding 461 acres L.R.P., Ngapaeruru, said that the eettlers in his district favoured the freehold, because they could not sell the lease in perpetuity as well as the freehold.

Th« commission left in the- afternoon foi Waip'Ukurau

NAPIER, JuDe 8.

The Land Commission sat at Waipukurau to-day. The Hon. W. C. Smith, M.L.C., eaid he would not express an opinion on the merits of the various systems of land tenure, as the proper time and place for him to do that would be when the question came before Parliament; but he advocated allowing tenants to pay into a fund to reduce the capital value of their land, and so pay rent on the smaller amount. This would encourage thrift. He had telegraphed to the Premier asking if this could be done, and had received a reply that the matter should come before the commission.

John Williamson, farmer, Hatuma, representing 45 Hatuma eettlers, favoured the freehold in preference to the lease in perpetuity. Personally he considered that the majority of the members of Land Boards should be elective on a county council franchise. R. H. Falconer, farmer, Hatuma, and T. Butler, farmer, Hatuma, both approved of the lease in perpetuity, but the latter would like to be allowed to pay off 50 per cent, of the capital value, and only pay rent on the balance.

H. T. Wright, farmer, favoured Land Boards being elective. John Parsons, farmer, Elsthorpe, and John Duncan, farmer, Elsthorpe., both favoured the freehold.

The commission will sit at Hastings tomorrow.

NAPIER, June 9. The Lard Commission sat to-day at Hasting*. W. E. Griflin. land vainer, thought most of the desire for the right to purchase arose from the fear of revaluation, but he con-i-idcred this would be unfair, though it would not be fair to allow settlers to secure the freehold of their sections at the original valuation after thb value had greatly increased. He approved of settlers being allowed to pay off in reduction of the capital \alue of, fay, one-third so that his interest might be reduced. Robert Well wood. farmer, Kaureka, Thomas, S. Perch al, farmer, Mahora, J. Thompson, farmer, Mahora, Eustace Lane, farmer, Argyll, James A. Kerr, farmer, Lindsay Settlement, all advocated that the right of purchose of the freehold should bo given.

Archibald Lowe, farmer, Mahora, and James Hawthorne, farmer, Mahora, expressed . themselves as satisfied with tli9 system of lease in perpetuity. E. C. Goldsmith, Commissioner of Crown Lands, said he' knew of rio agitation "amongst Crown tenants foe -the freehold. If such had sprung up it must have been recently. The grouping system of balloting was, in his opinion, a very bad one, and he knew of several people who would have made gocd settlers who would not apply because they feared they might be compelled to take a section they did not want.

The commission sits at Fahiatua tomorrow.

WELLINGTON, June 9. The Land Commission has been granted an extension of time for the presentation of its report from June 1 to June 20.