TARANAKI LAND AND LOCAL MEASUEES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 8981, 14 January 1891, Page 3

TARANAKI LAND AND LOCAL MEASUEES.

The re-establishment of freezing works at Waitara, on a more permanent basis by the shipment by direct steamers to London, ensuring cheaper freight, consequently a more paying price to the local grower of sheep and cattle, raises the question, Can the supply be maintained from the present stock carrying capacity of our grass lands within a payable distance from the port of Waitara ? To endeavour to solve this question, I propose to show reasons in favor of answering it in the affirmative. Having carried the first Liberal Land Act through the House in 1874, and continued to be a member of the Waste Lands Board from that period, and having always taken a deep interest in the settlement of the Waste Lands, it may be presumed that I have to a considerable extent informed myself of the value of the waste knd which can yet be dealt with for the purpose of further occupation for pastures and mineral purposes. There is even now considerably over a million acres to deal with which are unproductive, and to a large extent it depends on the business capacity , of the Government of the day whether these lands are placed in such a position that the enterprise of our people and of outsiders who may desire to settle in this district may have the opportunity to expend their -energy and capital beneficially to themselves, and to the great advantage of the colony. The various "Ministries which have in the past from time to time occupied the responsible position of governing the colony, with more or. less benefit to its people, have all been guilty of neglect in extinguishing, the native title to land so eminently fitted for settlement, as the larger portion of this Provincial District. Private individuals, finding the way clear for speculation, have availed themselves of the opportunities which Governments have neglected to take, and to a certain extent good results have followed their action. It is not, however, the correct principle to allow private .individuals to attempt what a Government 'only can succeed in doing satisfactorily, viz., systematically laying off sections of land according to the character of the country, whether best fitted for agricultural, pastoral, mineral pursuits; declaring reserves for roads and all other public purposes; and making the land accessible by roads and bridges. When this is properly done all persons who desire to occupy land have a fair chance of acquiring it. The small f aimer who only requires a farm can pick out a piece of agricultural land. The large grazier can occupy the pastoral country. The dealer can obtain a town lot, and when mineral wealth .exists as in this district, under proper Government control, tbo minor can secure the mineral land on fair terms without being encumbered with lands of any other class. Order is the primary law, and the advantage of Government administration of land is that oiderly ovgani sation is adopted ; for it is presume I that the public interest only shall be the motive in framing Jaws and regulations,- which direct the officials who act as the GovoVnment agents in disposal of the land. It i* therefore to be hoped that as the best results cannot be obtained from the waste lands in tin's district unless, they are placed under Government control, that for the future all private dealings in native lands shall be few and far between, and th-it the Government be prepared to acquire all sucli landi and take the responsibility of prepiripff ibtm fox iftlft >$ flwomfti unto

ment. If the Government will only do its part in the matter, I may state, vrith some knowledge of what I am talking about, that at no period in our history,has there been so'favdrable an opportunity^ of acquiring good grazing land at very moderate terms as will be offered during the next few years in this district. The Waste Land Board cannot be accused of placing high prices on the land ; the upset price of forest lands now rarely 1 exceeds 20s for first-class, down to 10s for second-class, and as the purchaser has the option of extending the payment of the purchase money over 14 years, without interest, by giving one-, fourth more than the upset price, or can take it on lease at a rental of 5 per cent.i on the upset price, with the option of buy-, ing tbe freehold within 11 years, it-will be 5 perceived that the terms are sufficiently' liberal, and such that no private persom could afford to give. In truth, the terms aro very liberal so for as the bonafide 1 occupier is concerned, notwithstanding the; residence and improvement clauses. -■ The ( Board is always inclined to "extend the period for exemption from residence toi a reasonable extent on .good and sufficient grounds being,offered, and .> will also extend l;he time with respect to improvements -when ,bad bash burning seasons interfere with, the occupier's.* arrangements for making a clearing 1.; Its administration,has been'tempered with a paternal regard'fbr the interest of the selector, who showed the proper spirit as a Working settler, and has never exercised its powers where the law allows; discretionary action in the spirit of a harsh rack-renting landlord. In fact, ,the' chief complaints made have come from portions of the district Iwhich was administered directlyiby the Minister for. Lands, viz., tbe .Waimaie Plains, and which, for political \ reasons, were v' taken out of the control of the Waste Lands Board, but are now restored.*- With the preliminary statement. I wiH, in future letters, deal with the main question of land administration. -'" ■ ' Thoma& Kelly. ' I I