PROVINCIALISM,

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1810, 15 September 1874, Page 3

PROVINCIALISM,

To the 'Editor of the Colonist,

Sic, —Iv the present depressed slate of the Province, all who are interested in its welfare ought seriously to consider for themselves how this condition can he altered. And in order to do so it appears to me necessary to seek for the cause of this depression

We see our neighbors of Canterbury, Otago, and even our quondam partner, Marlborough, progressing in a manner which must create feeHngs somewhat akin to jealousy. No doubt the two first mentioned Provinces are placed by nature in much better positions than we are. Their resources being easier to develope and their country in general, presenting great facilities for speedy and cheap pastoral and agricultural occupation.

But when we consider that this Province has sold nearly as many acres of land as Canterbury or Otago, there seems to be something anomalous in our condition with respect to these two prosperous Provinces. Otago had, besides a large area available for pastoral and agricultural occupation, a rich goldfield. But we, too, have a goldfield, probably as rich if not so extensive, and yet we have fallen behind. May not much of our present depression be fairly attributed, then, to the low price, at which so large a portion of our waste lands have been sold ? And to the fact that the land has principally fallen into the hands of large capitalists and run holders. Is there no remedy for this? Let us put the question in this form, in Canterbury, for instance, the price of waste lands has been and is £2 per acre, at 5 per cent interest, q.he landholder pays two shillings per acre foe every acre of freehold land he occupies, and we assume that the capital for this having been paid to the Province is at least worth an equal rate of interest. How do we stand, our land has averaged, I may assert, about 7s 6d per acre, and at the same rate ot interest, it costs the present owner about 4?d. per acre, and the Province j has had capital at the game rate of. interest.

Therefore the landholder in Nelson Province has saved since his purchase was made £1 7s per acre per annum, which the Province has at the same time lost. Another evil in my opinion, resulting from selling the waste lands so cheaply (I had almost said so recklessly) is that we have less population. A very large area of the very finest land in the Province (the Amuri district) is chiefly held by run holders, whose

interest it is to use the land for pastoral

purposes r whieh does not tend to increase the population, and in fact the runholder does not it any way desire an increase of population, at least in his immediate locality, so that thousands of acres are virtually locked up aa sheep runs, which, under a different system of land regulation might afford room for the advantageous settlement of thousands of men, women, and children. Again, the sale of the waste lands at so low a rate has impoverished this Province so that it has not been able to construct roads, &c, to anything the extent that Canterbury or Otago have done.

But, Mr. Editor, some may say it is easy to fiud out the plot when the game is played, but how to find the remedy ? And here difficulties arise, which under Provincial institutions I admit I see no means to overcome. Provincial Governments have u»> power to impose taxes only to spend the revenue derived from such taxes as the Assembly may enact laws for, therefore it is futile for a Provincial Government to attempt to say that the landholders who became possessed of their fine estates so cheaply, shall even now contribute equitably to the necessities of the Provincial revenue. Even supposing a Provincial Council voted resolutions to the effect that a land tax should be imposed to equalise this burden of the Provinces, is it at all likely that the Assembly would pass an act of such a nature ? Still, sir, I can see no means by which this Province is to struggle on save by obtaining a larger local revenue than we have at present. The tendency of the present Government is clearly against Provincial loans, and. our only hope is that the Premier may be bold enough to risk the attempt of doii?g awa/ with Provincialism in the South Island, as he intends to try in the North. I believe that if resort was had .to a plebescite on the question of abolishment of Provincialism in the whole Colony that it would show a very large majority of the population are in favor of doing away with this most costly and cumbersome system of local government.

Sir, I conclude by saying that I believe the only means for Nelson to progress will be by destroying Provincialism as soon as possible.—l am, &c,

T. D. C