THE RECENT LAND SALES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6259, 4 July 1890, Page 3

THE RECENT LAND SALES.

[to the editor.] Sxe, —Encouraged by your liberality and desire to seo the working classes prosper, I venture to say a few words on the above subject, and to endeavour to aiswer some of the questions asked by you in your leader of the 25th ult. JBona fide settlers desirous of obtaining land are labouring under great disabilities. I’heir means being limited they can only apply for two or three sections at most, therefore their chances arc small compared with the wealthy land grabbers, who can have a hundred dummy applications in if they choose. The cash system ought to be abolished, as being beyond the reach of the working man and the bona fids settler, for it does not tend to promote true settlement. Out of the seven sections disposed of at the recent sale (or lottery) on the Three Springs and Albury run only two have fallen to the lot of bona fide settlers. The rest have gone to swell the large estates adjoining, already far too largo for the good of the coun'.ry. I am informed on good authority that only four fresh homes w|ll be the result of the last sales, which is a grave scandal, the land being now the property of people who are buyers but not settlers. I notice that the Government are trying to play still more into the hands of wealthy landowners by their proposed mode of disposing of the Station Peak small grazing runs, for no lona fide settler can outbid the present runholders. There is still held by the lessees of the Three Springs, Albury, Opawa, and Bollesby, runs-(with a right of resumption) an area of fifteen thousand acres which ought to be opened for settlement at once as there are more bona fide settlers in the district in quest of land than double that area could satisfy. But first of all our South Canterbury members should heal ir themselvrs to get the Act amended, and the cash system abolished. It may he useful for immediate revenue purposes, but it is giving a death blow to the future prosperity of the colony. Perhaps another leader from you would have the desired effect.

I am, &e, Not a Dummy.