Correspondence. LAND REGULATIONS.

Timaru Herald, Volume IX, Issue 339, 26 August 1868, Page 3

Correspondence. LAND REGULATIONS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMARU HKRALD. Most people have had their attentioi lately attracted towards politics by thi serious aspect of the Native Affairs iv th< North, and the probable policy, of tin Colonial Executive m consequence. .If — Sir, as is moat likely to be the case— New_ Zea land i* again pledged to carry on a Maori war, whoi or what portion of the colony will paj the expense. It is quite evident from th< tone pf some of the Wellington journals^hai the Canterbury unsold lands are looked npor by the northern provinces as an inexhaustible Bource from which to draw, aa soon as it is necessary to legislate for that purpose. I see it is advocated? m. Friday's Times, to make use of the land fund m some way as quickly as possible, that the land fund may not be lost to the province ; even going so far as to propose giving free grants to boua fide settlers, and 1 think, there is no doubt that if, as is most likely to be the case m the end, a portion of the land fund will be taken from OS for General Government purposes, the sooner the land is disposed of to the benefit of the occupier, the better for the province. Are theie not ways Sir, m which the land fund could be secured to the province, and at the same time be such an inducement to the occupier, aa will lead to the. land beiug quickly settled, and placed beyond the power of the Legislature whether Colonial or Provincial. Is it not a notorious fact, Sir, that for years paat a large portion of the lands Bold m this province, has been taken up on- terms of deferred payment for the present occupiers, by land agents, who hare' found out it is only necessary to make the terms of payment easy, to have large quantities pf laud bought through them ? Is it not possible to adopt some plan similar to that practised by the agents, but on more easy terms, that would lead more quickly to the land being profitably settled by bond fide, working occupiers, and at the same time secure to the province' the full value of its unoccupied land T Taking it for granted that some change m the price of unsold land will soon be necessary m consequence of the land really worth (from its position etc.) two pounds an acre having been bought up, it would be gooii policy to make the terms: of payment easier, than to lower the price of land. Some such plan could be adopted (as I believe, was once the plan m Southland) as Belling the land at ten shilling? an acre cash,' ten shillings at the end of the Second j year, and ten shillings at the end of the third and fourth years, makiug iv all two pounds an acre. I think all must acknowledge that, the agricultural interest has now become the mainstay of the province, and at the same time all must have a feeling that it is m a very precarious position ; it therefore is necessary that every possible advantage that can be obtained for it, - should be, by those m power, whether provincial or local. It has seemed to me very hard, on. the agriculturist, before he can have any advantage from the improvements he has after months of toil, been able to make on his newly acquired land, that he should be called upon to pay road rates m proportion to his improvements, without m all probability the remotest chance of having a road near him for months and -years after. I know of course, with the funds . that have been, and are no w m the hands of the different Road Boards, no other course could be adopted, but Sir, is it not possible to remove, m some degree, ft tax pressing very heavily on this important interest. Is it not possible before the last of the good land is goue, that a, portion, say two thousand acres should be chosen by the Road Boards of each district, and bt» held m trust by them, as aa endowment for the district they represent, and which should be leased, and the proceeds used to lessen the road rates. Let for ten years at five shillings an . acre, per annum, would produce -five hundred- pounds a year, (which, although comparatively little would be a, great help) but alter the first lease bad sxpired, jfc would then become a moat valuable property for its district, for.it would produce at the ■'. very ' least, two thousand pounds a year, and of course, would make rates on farm property, almost unnecessary. I write this, thinking it may lead to discussion (before the land' is' all gone) that 'may eventually do good. '..',"'. . . I think our land 'fund' is now m a very dangerous position, for is it not quite possible that our Provincial Government, seeing the lands of this district passing from their hands and having no further' interest m them, may so legislate' for us, that the getting even all we have asked of the General Assembly, may 'be of : no •'; service 'to usi With a General Government waiting its time to grasp a portion of our land fund, and a Provincial Government (from jealousy and loss of valuable districts from separation) no longer so interested m the price of land, scarcely their opponents, how will our land fund' be saved. Year after year the colony is gradually, but surely, getting deeper into debt, and, as a last- resource, the unsold land of the provinces will be required. It will be a. greater advantage to us to sell our lands on deferred payments,, and get them sold, so &s to produce a fund for years to come, and endow our Road. Board districts while we ha,y;e the means,' than have them taken, from us. after a, {time to pay .the liabilities of the north. . Apologising for taking so much of your valuable space, ■ i ..■"-.•■- X am, &c, R.K.P. August 17th, 1863. TO THB EDITOR OF THE TIMABtT HEBAU>. Sib, — It is easier to level than to build up. We have beep, trying a long time to build, j and secure the best distribution of our land fund to keep against a rainy day, and to i avoid being taxed. I should advise this is the last time we appeal to . our members at Wellington, or' assist m Local Government Leagues. We are' only being humbugged if we can't get what we want this session, and those who should assist won't I say go m for .what the. Lyttellon Times proposes; or, not exactly give the land away, but sell- iu small blocks, hot more than 100 acres. Do away with pre-emptive rights at once. , Sell, the land for 5s au acre; and make them improve it to the amount of another 5s the first year, and 10s the second year, and then give them their title. Depend on it, the Times has got an idea of what will meet the notions of people generally, and we will do what we can to carrY it. out Our leaders here are too lazy to baud, and if they Will not do that, they will fiiid what I say tnie. They. will find that as it is an easier job, we stiaU'find plenty to help to level You pay your money and, you take your 'choice, should be onr motto witih the land. We'll pay our national debt off first; and' if there's, anything left, reduce our taxes with it, ' ' ' ' I am, Ac., • ' ■ • ' V -•..•.:■••:.■•_•• a Working Man. ••!■• i- i ■ ■"' ■.- j. ■■■!■■;,■ ■■■ .'■»■?■■ . <■■ ; ; :••-.-