Population and Settlement.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7067, 20 January 1891, Page 2

Population and Settlement.

The gathering of members of the Abbo-

ciation for the Advancement of Science has brought to Christchurch a number of gentlemen who are specialists in certain matters of great social importance. Among our visitors is the Hon G. W. Cotton, of Adelaide, who is an ardent advocate of a system of small holdings of land, which he considers to be the mainstay of individuals and nations. In November last Mr Cotton brought forward in the Legislative Council of which he is a member, the following j resolution— "That, in the opinion of! this Council, immediate steps should be ; taken to induce population to this Colony (South Australia), by offering facilities for settlement upon the soil, of persons who come provided *ith sufficient means to make a statt." This resolution the hon gentleman based upon the following which he had carried in the same house a few days before : — " The present system of increasing the indebtedness of the country, without a proportional increase of population and production from the soil, tends to prevent the material progress of the Colony." Mr Cotton's views are those held by the Liberals of New Zealand, and an endeavour is about to be made to induce him to deliver, before he leaves Christchurch, an address upon a subject that he has thoroughly mastered. Mr Cotton, it should be remembered, is well advanced in years, and is not likely to revisit us. So good an opportunity for hearing a well thought out exposition of the system of land settlement which finds so many admirers here should not be lost ; and an early date for the address should, if possible, be fixed upon. Correspondence is, we understand, going on between Mr Cotton and the Trades and Labour Council, under whose auspices it is hoped that the address will be given.