South Canterbury Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1883.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3329, 3 December 1883, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1883.

The “regulation of the alienation, occupation, and management of Crown lands ” is a subject of the greatest importance in these colonies, and hitherto legislation in the matter has been very imperfect. The Land Act of Mr Eolleston, in this colony, carries us a long way ahead, and there is nothing in which the fruits of the persistent labors of the liberal party are more plainly visible. It required no little pressure to induce a Government such ns the present to introduce a Bill so liberal in its provisions, and it is very certain that but for the constant exertions of the Opposition no such concession would ever have been granted. It is becoming daily more and more apparent that the old abuse of monopoly must yield to the demands of population, and though it is deeply rooted and hard to eradicate, monopoly must sooner or later become a thing of the past. Our friends in New South Wales have now a Land Act which may be cited as a model of statesmanship. The lands of the colony are classed as their topographical position demands, into eastern or coast lands, central, and western or back-country lands. The terms upon which Crown lands may be held in these divisions are as follows : In the eastern section each present pastoral lessee may have a five years lease of half his station at a valuation, but not less than 2d per acre yearly The other half is to be open for selection in areas of 640 acres and a selector may have another 640 acres on a five years lease. At the end of the five years he may purchase the second area without further residence. In the central division, the half-station may be held on a ten years lease at 3d per acre, the other half to be open to selection in 2560-acre blocks, the selector paying 2s per acre deposit; after three years, Is 6d per acre down, and similar instalments extending over fifteen years. If he choose to pay the whole in five years instead, a liberal rebate is allowed him. In the back country no conditional purchase is provided for. The run-holder may have a 15-years lease of half his run at 2d per acre while the remainder is open for homestead leases only, in fblocks of not less than 5760 acres and not less than 10,240 acres. The lessee of such blocks must reside ou bis land for five years. Both the squatter and the selector in this back country division may, at the expiration of 15 years, obtain a 5-years’ renewal of their leases. Beyond fencing and residence, no conditions are imposed upon the selector in this division. Non-residential selections may be had, but only in blocks of 320 acres; and the payments charged are double those charged in case of residential sections, while considerable improvements must be made. The Act is to be administered by District Land Boards, —the final Court of Appeal being one over which the Minister of Lands presides. It is believed that the Act will raise the colony’s revenue from pastoral occupation from £350,000 to £1,000,000 per annum. It would be difficult to obtain a more judicious and at the same time more radical measure of reform than this, and the progress of the new law, when it is adopted by Parliament, will be watched with interest by all the colonies.