THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, 8th SEPT., 1906. THE LAND POLICY.

Southland Times, Issue 19919, 8 September 1906, Page 2

THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, Bth SEPT., 1906. THE LAND POLICY.

In his speech on the land question delivered in the House on Tuesday night ih tlie courso of the Financial Debate the .Minister of Lands, the Hon. R. Hois’a b, laid himself out to make a comprehensive statement of the laud policy of the new Ooverument. He approached his task with a due sense of the onerous responsibility resting upon him. As he pointed out, no. Minister of Lands laid been called upon since 1892, when Sir .John McKenzie explained the whole laud policy of the then Government, to make a statement explanatory in all its details of the land policy of the Government. HaVi tug commenced with this explicit statement of his intention, Mr McNab proceeded to make a speech which fully occupied the lime available to him, and which may bo accepted, we think, as containing the first and the last word of the Government in regard to the laud question. It will be granted that the object of a Government's laud poluy is to settle the lands of the colony in the most advantageous manner, and as far as possible maintain a supply of laud commensurate with the demand, in other words, the Government has to appease the “ land hunger." Mr McNab's first business was to show what area ol land is still available for settlement. This area is 8,289,801 acres, of which 1,45(‘>.78S acres consist of country suitable only for pastoral and small grazing runs. The balance, 1,788.0(58 acres, represents the area tliat would bo settled under the optional system if that system were allowed to continue in operation. Mr McNab's argument appeared to be that this area is so small that it must be held by the frown to make provision for the enormous and increasing expenditure involved in paying old ago pensions and maintaining charitable institutions.- I nloss this expenditure is provided for by endowments Mr McNab and his colleagues forsee the time when it will impose too heavy a strain upon the Consolidated Fund. Wo may pause here to comment upon the peculiar circumstance that a Government, which claims tor the jcountry whose affairs it administers I the distinction of being the most prosperous in the world, is oppressed , by the prospect of being unable to j maintain its poor. It is not only I absurd but monstrous that so large a part of the revenue of a colony like Now Zealand should be absorbed in alleviating distress and poverty. This enormous expenditure is not reconcilable with the boast that for 10 or 15 years Now Zealand has been enjoying the full flood of prosperity, and that within Iter borders there are no unemployed, and the confession that the ordinary revenue of the colony will soon be unable to meet these charges is one that should occasion not a little disquietude in (ho country. To return, however, to (he land question —the contention of the Government seems to be that the area of land that remains is little enough

to sot aside as an endowment for | charitable and _ educational • purposes in order to release the Consolidated Fund from expenditure under those headings. Hence the optional system 1 must go. Mr McNab is a freeholder, as his speeches show, and Sir Joseph Ward is mi out and out supporter of the optional system, as his speeches also show, and wc are to assume that in the interests of old age pensions and charitable institutions both gentlemen haVe suppressed their convictions in regard to the best method of settling the 1,782,062 acres that are still available under the optional system. The last thing (hey would have anyone think is that they have become leaseholders and abandoned their freehold principles. To prove that they are still consistent Mr McNab put forward a most extraordinary argument. Part of the Government policy is a clause which provides that all owners of land to the value of over £30,000 unimproved shall, during the next ten tears, place the excess of the £30,000 holding upon the market. There are in the colony-62 ('stales that exceed this value, and if passed into law the new clause will compel the large owners to sell £2,222,506 worth of hind in order to reduce their holdings to the maximum allowed. Working in conjunction with this danse will be another making it impossible for any individual in future to acquire more than 1000 acres of first class land, or more than 5000 acres of second class land. By thus limiting holdings and forcing a large area of land upon the market the Government claim that they have provided " for putting more land on the market to be taken up under the freehold system than has been offered to the public during the last ten years under any legislation we possess.” Mr McNab cheerfully fells ns that because 62 large landed proprietors will have lo sell two and a quarter million pounds worth of land the freehold is still part of the Government policy, It is a palpable non soquitur. Wo are, of course, in favour of preventing the aggregation of large estates by limiting the area that, any one man can bold (or any one man and ,his family for that matter), and wo also believe that in the interests of '(he colony close settlement should be promoted by some such provision as that which prescribes 1000 acres of first-class and 5000 acres of second-class land as the most that any individual can hold. The amount of tile maximum value and area is a matter we do not pretend to judge upon, ft is one to he decided by I hose who have expert knowledge. Bn I the limitation should he part of a Government policy which provides for the freehold in the settlement of frown lauds. If the new Government be really in favour of the leasehold at heart, it should take from these 62 large owners the excess of their holdings over the value allowed by law, appropriate it to the frown and settle it under the 66 ,\ears lease. Of course that would wear a complexion very like ronliscat ion. and because the Government is not prepared to confiscate, because it will not interfere with the i■ il ll of the land owner to sell his properly how and when he phases, because, in a word, it is virtuous enough to keep to its contracts, it professes to consider the freehold in its policy. It appears to us that (lie Government is trying to present different sets of features to dilTeiVnt sides of the House. Tt is trying to show the leaseholders that it intends to part with no more frown lands, and it is trying to show the freeholders that it entirely sympathises with their very laudable aspiration to own the land they cultivate; and if l li«' freeholders an* not quite satislied lo be allowed to buy from private owners at prices that may be much beyond their means, they have tliis additional concession, that a renewal of tile 66 years lease at an adjusted rental will le* assured to them. As a compromise this policy, as embodied in (lie promised Land Bill, may pass through the House, but it remains to lie seen whether, with the residin' of the frown lands locked up. the small settlor, with his rather scanty resources, will bo able to satisfy Ids wants from the two am! a quarter million pounds worth of land that the 62 large land holdors will be compelled to sell. \>itb the passing of the bill the amount of freehold in the colony will become a fixed quantity, and (he result may 1)0 such an appreciation of values as will -debar all but the rich from acquiring any of the freehold lhat will be put upon the market. V>e must confess to a feeling of regret that Sir Joseph Ward and Mr McXab should have gone back upon their freehold principles, and that, having gone back upon them, they did not frankly say that, they had changed their opinions for reasons that seemed good and satisiactorV to them,

A meeting of the Y.M.C.A. held last nLht unanimously decided to adopt the new constitution ns drafted by the delegales of the Y.M.C.A. aid Y.M.B.C.T. The Municipal Band will give a promenade concert next Wednesday evening on the rotunda (weather permitting). The mail steamer Sierra arrived nt Sau Francisco on 3rd hist., due date. Tim Y.M.C.A. Bund has improved steadily since its inauguration mid the concert to be given in the Kelvin street Hull on Tuesday next should be worthy of patronage. The band will he assisted bv several prominent vocalists and the pro.gramme will lack neither merit nor variety.

Mr Major, member (Ur Hawora, says Thai upon a Maori dying his debts die with film, so that tradespeople to whom he may owe money are not, able to recover even though ho may have been possessed of real ami personal property. .Many hardships have, he ga.vs, been indicted upon tradespeople in Taranaki owing to Hie death of native debtors, even though large sums of money are at their credit in Iho hands of the Public Trustee.

At tiie Dunedin hides sales the pelt of [i Hereford realised til its Id or TJdper

The photograph of the purchaser of each season ticket for the N.'/. Exhibition will he affixed lo the “ pasteboard,” The Minister has approved of the expenditure of IDO guineas for the best district displays on lines suggested by the Agricultural and Pastoral Committee of the Exhibition.

Tin' Invercargill Victorian Football Club team played (lore Kangaroos at Gore on Wednesday and won by 4 goals 5 behinds to 3 goals 10 bolvinls. The goal kickers for the Invercargill team wore ,1. Mofoney (3), P. Crane il). and for Gore, .T. Cavnmigh (2), Mills (I). Mr Campbell as Held umpire gave general satisfaction.' At the eles i of the match the visiting team were entertained by the Gore Club. The annual interprovincial schools match, Otago v. Southland, referred to in the football notes on the first page hr this issue, will lake place in Invercargill on Wednesday.

Lecturing tq the Christchurch philosophical Society- on Wednesday night Dr Cockayne explained why, in seme cases at all events, plants cannot 1 lie got to grow in gardens. In many cases, lie said, a species of fungus' was found in the soil, mid this attached itself to the roots. Far from being detrimental, this was beneficial, and sometimes even essential. Tiie fungus assimilated certain foods and left them in forms such as nlnld bo used by the plant. Tims in some cases Hie failure of plants to grow could lie ascribed to fnilura lo inoculate the soil with the proper fungus, if it was not indigenous.

The secretary of the Education Board hits made representations, to the Department pointing out the injustice of Withholding conveyance allowance from those children who ride to school. On Mr Cowie’s motion'a resolution was passed drawing the Department's attention to the fact that most of tjte country roads were unsafe for driving, and riding was far preferable.

Air S. Turner, who is at present representing the London firm of Wilier and Riley in Now Zealand, is very proud of the fact tl*it his firm is the first to advertise New Zealand butter at Howe, and in connection with that fact lie tells a little talc. When the great football match between Wales and New Zealand was played at Cardiff one of the Arm’s customers bespoke a column in the special edition of the paper in’ which the result of the match urns published. His column contained the following advertisement ; “ Wales may beat New Zealand at football, but New Zealand can lick creation at making butter. Como and see our Ell ham dairies at la 2d per lb," The enterprising tradesman also distributed 10,000 handbills at the football match and made a great display cf New Zealand butter in his shop window.

Pastirnlars of Dr Mason’s (Chief Health Officer) scheme for the medical examination of schorl children and treatment of prevalent, detects have been forwarded to teachers throughout the district for their consideration and report. Mr IvlncGibbon sarcastically remarked 'at yesterday’s meeting of the Board that teachers Would have to be qualified doctors as well as teachers. Very soon a teacher would bo eXi'ectci! to know everything under the sun.—-Mr Crosby Smith agreed that the number of subjects that a teacher had now to pass examination in was limiting t lie number of certificated teachers the prospect frightened tTi'em. Air Leslie Cheyno has requested us to acknowledge further subscriptions to the Mrs Turner fund aw follows :—The Hon. Sir .1. G. Ward, £2 2s ; Mr Henry Feldwick. XOs,

Tim District Health Officer lias directed the attention of the Education Board to the danger of spreading conv.-irption and other infectious diseases caused by the practice of gathering up school pens promiscuously nt the close of oath day’s work, and issuing them Indiscriminately next day. Each child should have his, or her, own pen.—The Inspector wus instructed to report on the .uggestiori. The splendid prices that are offering at present for the ensuing season’s make of cheese have sent a thrill of the most agreeable nature through this important dairying community (says the Wyadham Farmer). We learn that, Messrs Henderson and Batger have this week purchased the outputs of the Seaward Downs, Edendale, and Island factories respectively—whose aggregate product, until

'■ end of export season.’’ should total about 800 tons. The price agreed upon is tijd per II). This is easily tbo best value any dairy factories in the colony have ever received for their cheese ; indeed, the price is phenomenal, being some three farthings a pound above last year’s ruling rotes. What this actually moans in the way of appreciating the dairy Industry will best be shown by the calculation, mode by a qualified gentleman, that the present market price will put, in round figures, an extra £l2 000 into the coffers of the dairy factories established in the Mat aura electorate. No wonder that dairymen are looking forward buoyantly to the prospects of the coming season, it is also .satisfactory to note that a purely Southland commercial firm has been aide to outbid other competitors in th*’li- offers, mid wc are only re echoing the generally expressed sentiments throughout tltis district when wo wish Messrs Henderson ami Batger the best of good fertune in tlteir disposal of these large lines of produce upon the London market.

School attendance averages were slightly lower than usual last month, hut the prevalence of measles in several districts probably accounted for the lapse, Pino Bush topped the list with an average of ;>!*, W.vndlmm 97. Henmore 90.8, Lumsden 9‘.i.5.

Ur Pomace's report of ids visit to tho Colac .school, to enquire into the alleged prevalence of consumption and skin disease, has not yet been presented, but Mr Neill told the Education Board that Hr I'omare was not seriously troubled hy what lie saw at Colac. He found no more than the normal number of cases of tuberculosis among the natives, and two children suffering from consumption had been ordered not to attend school, hut to be kept in the fresh air. A form of eczema was found among a number of the natives and they were ordered not to attend school until better.

Tenders are to he invited for the erection of i!it* proposed infants' building at llm South schorl.

•L A-rnst, who established the third fastest time in tile Dunlop road race on Saturday, and who was accordingly to have keen one of the three riders to represent New Zealand at the Warrnam-hool-Melbourne race on September 22nd, found himself unable to go. and H. Henderson, of Palmerston North, the next fastest man, then became the third representative. On Wednesday, however, Henderson notified that he also could not make the trip, and U. Rogers, of Tlmaru, the next fastest competitor, became entitled to the honour of being the third rider. Mehrtons and Smith, the other two representatives, have received a handicap of ten minutes, hut Rogers’s handicap lias not yet been declared. Several other New Zealand riders intend to compete in the race, and the following handicaps have been received :—A, llirch. 24 min. ; T. Campbell, 23 min. ; Boyce, 40 min.

From a private letter received in Wellington from a prominent Rugby official in the Old Country it is made clear that a British football team will visit New Zealand in 1908, and that every effort will be made to ensure a very strong representative combination* Particular attention is to be paid to the forwards, so as to secure the very best material, as after the visit to Britain of the Now Zealand team it has come to be recognised that if success Is to bo attained the British team must have a very powerful vanguard. Thera is every probability that all the best Welsh players wfill be able to make the trip. It is believed that the team will prove the strongest English Rugby combination ever seen in New Zealand.

The Education Board's truant officer. Mr D. Bcy-d, having retired on superannuation, the offices of truant officer and caretaker of the Board’s offices and Technical school, have Been combined, add carry a salary of £l5O per annum, with actual travelling expenses. Applications for the position will bo invited at once. Thn Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times understands that the registrars throughout the colony are to be instructed to bo prepared for art election. (This has reference Of course to the possibility of a dissolution following an adverse division on the land question).

” You’re a parsimonious let,” was Mr llaymond’s comment yesterday when the Education Board decided to guarantee a further £l2 10s only to> the funds of the local Exhibition Committee. Mr Raymond thought that as the Board had donated only £25 in the first instance, it would not. be extravagant if a further £25 ms guaranteed. The majority of the Bonrd, however, thought that the committee’s bare request (for half of previous vote) should he compiled with, and a' resolution to that effect was carried. Regarding the difference between the Caledonian societies and the Christchurch Scottish Society as to the date for hold-, ing thn Highland games at the Exhibition, Sir Joseph Ward has now tele- j graphed to the Exhibition- Commissioners , suggesting that, if possible, the dates fixed for the Scottish gathering in connection with the Exhibition (January 1

and 2) should bo changed, ns a feeling of antagonism has been engendered in the centres where Caledonian gatherings have heon held on' tho same dates for many years past. Tolly, lay the tablecloth. We’ll have a little luncheon ; Don’t forget the mutton broth. And put the O.T. Punch on. *

t If you throw a Five Pound Note into J ? the lire, it seems like awful extravagance, 1 yet you may be wasting many pounds every your by using an inferior Separator, and think nothing of it. Buy an “ Alfn-Laval” and note how your bank balance will grow by its savings. The former leakage will then bei come very apparent to you. The "AltaLaval” will cut your bills for repairs, oil, etc., in halves, and keep your temper , sweet and mild. ’ This is the verdict of its half a million . users throughout the world. You are not , experimenting in buying an “ Alfa-Lav-al," its record of 700 first prizes guarantees this. , Catalogues mailed free on application. . Solo N.Z. Agents, Mason, Struthcrs and Co., Ltd., Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.

" Not understood, not understood t” The poet sadly sighed. " The only drink that’s really good, la O.T. Punch," he cried. The great blight preventive is "Tanz.a'* -ja most powerful and uon-poisouous germicide ami . the best known potato blight cure. A 2s bottle makes 12 gallons. All stores have it. If you want a blight-free crop next season use it. Whore Is my wandering boy to-night ? The youngest one of the bunch ? I feel somehow that he’ll bo all right If ha’s drinking O.T, Punch. ” Tanza ’’—a long want supplied, a perfect preventive of the dreaded potato blight. One dressing kills the spores and prevents the germs of disease acting. 2s bottles make 12 gallons. All stores soil it.

The British M.P.’s have decided From alcohol they will abstain ; They’ll drink. O.T. Punch in the session— It’s better than any champagne.