OPEN COLUMN.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume V, Issue 536, 27 August 1897, Page 2

OPEN COLUMN.

I Correspondence is invited upon all tub jecti , but we do not hold ourtelvei responsible for the opinions of our correspondents .J OUR LAND LAWS.

Sib, —I think the time has now arrived when all the Crown tenants ■ and occupiers of Crown Lands in this and adjoining districts of the North Island at least should petition parliament to amend the land laws. At present these laws are simply a pest and there is scarcely a tenant of the Crown but who is continually subject to an action for evasion of soma clause of the Act or non-fulfil-ment of the same. The whole business is one of continual worry—so far as the holders of Crown Lands in bush districts sre concerned—and at any-time the occupier is liable to be brought before the Land Board upon some petty question of nonfulfiment of conditions, and subjected to the ranger’s prying into his private affairs from time to time. Everything is so hedged around that it is positively dangerous to attempt to touch Crown bush land unless you feel inclined to starve upon it. For example 1 know men who took up sections in special settlements who had means to improve, but who did not or could not reside unless they cared to starve. These men's holdings have been forfeited, the result being that these men who would have made good properties of their holdings and helped those who were j residing and wauting help, were compelled to abandon them. And J further if a ssttler desires to part with his holding, no matter for what reason, he has to bow to the powers that be (v z. the Minister’s nominees, the Land Board i and make a good case before he can get what be wants, jif he gets any concession at all. And this in a democratic country. Then | the prices put upon the land are j ridiculously high. For example, ! lands called first-class with tracks j to them are valued at from 25s to 40s per acre at 4 per cent for eternal lease or 5 per cent on lease in perpetuity. It means that a crown tenant upon one hundred acres at say 25s per acre at 4 per cent pays £5 a year for ever; whereas, under the land laws of the late Hon. John Ballance, 1885, settlers could take up land upon deferred payments o( about double the aforesaid amount and could in ten years cease paying and get the fee simple if desired. This was giving a settler a show. Besides, they need not reside if they did double improvements, and if they did these improvements they could demand a transfer fi they desired to whom they pleased. The settlement of the land has not progressed under the present regime like it did under the other, and why ? Because the land laws are hemmed about with frivolous restrictions. Revert back to the Act of 1885 and the bush districts will boom. “ Y'es,” some one will say “ with speculation ” and why not ? My experience is tnat as a rule the second man who occupies is the best. Then why not give freedom if you want progressive settlement ? By all means restrict the area to be occupied as at present. Give the land to the people, but do not hamper them. Retain the lease in perpetuity if you like and retain the eternal lease, but start the whole business on a better footing. Set- ; tiers who are paying or have to pay £5 j a year for a hundred acres of bush country should be only asked to pay say half that for the first 25 years and £5 a year from thence on. and then let them reside off thier land if they choose. If they do this continually compel them to do double ' improvements; and if they desired to dispose of their interest whether they reside or not, let it be done 1 and make the law that the registration of the transfer of a lease shall be as free as the registration of the transfer of title and the registration of the mortgage of a lease as free as the registration of the mortgage of a title. These matters should not bo allowed to go before the Minister's nominees ai all. The settlers have it in their own hands to petition Parliament and get the member for tho district to present the petition. Hit is their wish, and 1 am sure it is from the complaints I have often heard, the member will do it: nay, he must. You have the remedy why not make use of it. Apologising fot trespassing so much oil your valuaable space.—l am. etc.. Jon Vili.