OUR LAND LAWS PROM A COCKATOO'S POINT OF VIEW.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1182, 23 September 1885, Page 4

OUR LAND LAWS PROM A COCKATOO'S POINT OF VIEW.

( To tlte Editor.) Slß,— lt has been hinted that I have beon writing about things of which I know very little. I do not deny that agriculture is a rerj difficult subject to matter, and the man who begin* to write long letters on it > ad j better mind bit P's and Q's ; Btill, the theory ! of farming when redu ed to newspaper writing ie comparatively easy when compared with the real thing itself. There is, however, not a more difficult profession under the sun, although it is generally supposed that anybody can be a farmer. It is, moreover, a still more difficult thing in a new country ; it will not pay to adopt the tame system of farming as at Home, so (to use a digger's phrase) they have to prospect the ground. This is a rery expensive operation for the farmer, and I do not tee why the farming industry, which is of far more importance than mining, should, not be recognised and fostered by Government. I think some practical scheme could be devised by which the b st students from the Canterbury Agricultural College could be utilised to do the prospecting for the farmer* without, in any way, becoming a burden to the country. Suppose, for instance, that the Government offered, as an inducement to first-class students, 400 acres of fl'st-class land free, and lent them money at 5 per cent, on condition that they settled on the land iv the districts where they were required to test the capabilities of the soil and show the settlers what really could, be done with a iarm of that size. They would have to give any information gratuitously to the settlers, and publish an account of the management of the farm in all its departments yearly, and show the expenditure and profit. I have just made thin suggestion in the hope that somebody more capable of judging the matter may pass an opinion upon it. By such a lohemo I think our legislators would come to understand the price to put upon land, and tha'. would be a great benefit to fanner*. It would also cause a deeper interest to be taken iv agricultural pursuits by opening up a career for the brightest of our farmers' boys. I also think tbat a simple system of farm book-keeping should be taught in all our schools to boys who wish to learu it, lam sure the want of this knowledge has been a great drawback to a great many settlers in this country. I should alto like to see the farmers have contt-ol of the lands that are now settled ; for I think this is only reasonable. Taxation falls unevenly on the small farmer, and he U naturally anxious that the number of taxpayers should bo increased ; be is not likely to wink at dummyism, nor allow Crown lands that are fib for settlement *o be leased or sold in large blocks. But how is the farmer to get (he management of the land into his own hands? This is rather a difficult question io answer satisfactorily j still, I may be allowed to throw out some suggestions which may or may not be considered practicable. I have never heard anyone's opinion concerning thorn, and I can hardly trust my own judgment so far as to say that these suggestions are sound. Ido not think, however, the farmers will regard the schemo as wild or visionary, and they are certainly the best judges. The farmers and working men should bear in mind that their interests are identical ; they should also bear in mind that if they join hand in hand no power in New Zealand can resist them. There has never been any great gulf between them here, although a little irritation has been caused to the farmers by always allowing the working man to have the best of him j yet I think if any sensible man looks into the matter properly, he will admit that the working man is not overpaid. I confess that it does appear so at fir3t glance, when oompared with the farmer's position ; but I thiak ererj hoiy will allow that the farmer is in a false position. Ido not moan every f armor. Some people would make you believe that a practical man could make a for: une farming ; but then these people do not know better. I read Mr B. Crcig's rery able and instructive paper delivered at Wait ah un a lately on " Farmers' Clubs : their ÜBes and purposes " with much interest ; and I may say it was the perusal of that paper that suggested to my mind that Farmers' Clubs could be made useful as political organizations — that, in a word, they could be made useful an a powerful Land League if the farmers and working men would only join them and pull together. They could then have the lands settled as they wish them to be settled — by prosperous and bona fide settlers, who would bo good neighbors and help to relieve us of some of the burden of our enormous debt. The management of tha Crown lands haß been long enough in the hands of men who hare abuied the confidence that the country has placed in them. I : bink this will be admitted by every intelligent man who is unbiassed; for our legislators have ceased to be anything but a society of middlemen. I do not say they are all that. There are men of superior culture and ability .in the House who, I am sure, have the welfare of the country at heart ; but it happens that most of these men are not interested in agricultural pursuits, and cannot possibly know much about making land laws, although they may think they do. Well, wh<it I mean to propose is this : That a Farmers' Club should be formed in every County. Ifc could consist of several branches under Vice- Presidents, but only one Freiident, who •would be efcctedt by tUe dv&iTent bxmchro } and no member of the Club would be allowed to rote for the President unless he attended a certain number cf meetings at one place or the other. This would give working men and others whom we should admit to the Club a chance of qualifying themselves to voto, as they might not always be in the same place. The President woul.l represent his County on the Land Board, which would meet monthly, and have entire control of the settlement of the lands all over the province. Auy land to be sold or leased in any County would have to be examined by the President and VicePresident of the County in which it was situated, and reported on to the Land Board. The President would hold the title of a J.P. while in office, aud all declaration>papers would have to be eigaed by- him. The applicant would have to answer a certain number of questions with regard to his experience, &c, in farming ; the amount of means at his command, &c. ; and if he were not a likely man to sucoeed it might bo as well to tell him so, and give him a little advice as to the best way he could qualify himself to become a farmer. I think something might be done with the first-class students in new districts before they are opened for settlement. A few of the students could be allowed to take up farm« five or six miles ap'irt. Settlers i ould loam from them all about the capabilities of the soil in new districts before taking up their farms. These new districts could also be made the home of the surrey ors, who should also be first-cluss students, who thoroughly understand what size t o make the f arm?, and how to lay them off. There is another tbing I might ! mention that I should like lo_>ee done, &n& ] _-_ih&fc is that Parliament migkt prevent holders of la<*go tracts of country from selling them to any parties but Farmers' Clubs, or, I should I rather say, the Land Boards, who would see the lands properly settled. The lands would have to bring the price they cost. I think all the lands should be settled on the principle of add in? to the taxpayers, and not in any way increasing the present public expenditure. There is another thing that I might say a word or two about before concluding : The farmers are at present paying a rack rent in the shape of interest on borrowed money. Now I do not think it would ba unreasonable to ask the mon»>y-lenders to lake a little 1- ss in these bad times. I know in very many cases at Home the farmers hare got a half*

jear't rent returned and their rtnt reduced. I do not Me why the money lordi of New Zealand should not reduce their rents ; it all depends on the farmers themselves : they can make the money-lender* do so if they only pull together. — I am, &c, A Cockatoo.