The Waipawa Mail SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1879.

Waipawa Mail, Volume 2, Issue 115, 18 October 1879, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1879.

The importance of a largo number of small landholders to a country cannot be overestimated. A prosperous, contented yeomanry class have always formed, and. will always form, the backbone of a nation. Directly and indirectly they are the chief contributors to the public wealth, and the country’s mainstay in seasons of depression and trouble. A striking confirmation of this statement we have in the case of France. To her peasant proprietors that country chiefly owes the facility with which the enormous sum demanded by Prussia by way of a war indemnity has been met, and her speedy recovery from the effects of what many regarded as disasters of an overwhelming and irremediable nature. Her recuperative powers have mainly depended upon the enormous number of her small proprietors, and their seemingly boundless resources. To this also, in some measure, is due the speedy recovery of America from the depression consequent upon the civil war, and her return to specie payments. Had similar reversos overtaken our own country, it is not too much to say that, notwithstanding her wealth, a much longer period •would have been necessary to recover from the commercial paralysis and stagnation which must have followed ; and the same thing would hold good in the case of any country whose prosperity depended purely upon commercial pursuits. Such being the case, a numerous and prosperous agricultural community settled upon and tilling their own land is essential to a nation’s stability and continued prosperity. This fact is coming to be pretty generally recognised. Even Conservative England is beginning to acknowledge it, and both in England and Scotland some of the largest landed proprietors have recently pronounced against the present land laws, primogeniture and entail, and declared that sweeping radical changes are essential to restore and permanently maintain, the country’s prosperity. Amongst the number who have given expression to these and kindred opinions are Lord Hartington and the young Earl of Fife. Few have a larger stake in the country than these noblemen. Their acres are broad, and their respective rentrolls represent a princely income. No one can therefore charge them with being mere adventurers, who may have something to gain, but nothing J to lose, by the reforms to which they

have now lent the benefit of their influence and advocacy. It is all the other way. Nothing but a strong sense of duty and patriotism could have induced them to come forward in the capacity of land-law reformers. And there can be no doubt but the conditions under which land is leased and held has much to do with the present agricultural depression in tho mother country. Had the land been more extensively owned and worked j by the occupants of the soil, the causes which nave largely led to the present distress would have been reduced to a minimum, if not made well-nigh impossible; and certain it is that in these days of keen competition, British farmers will be placed at a decided disadvantage till such time as all purely class legislation is swept away, and land is dealt with in the same manner as any other property. The importance of this subject has not escaped the notice of colonial legislators, and in those laws bearing upon “ Special Settlement,” “ Small Farm Associations,” wo have the results of a well-meant attempt to carry into practical effect the principle of “ Theland forthepeopleand the people for the land.” In Otago and Canterbury the small farm system has been carried out with considerable success. Unfortunately the same thing cannot be said of the North Island. With the exception of the fow runs recently cut up, the only small farm settlements amongst ourselves are in the Bush, and none of these can as yet bo regarded as an unqualified success. This might be accounted for on various grounds. They have had many difficulties and drawbacks to contend against, arising from locality, and the principles upon which they were carried out. In some places the aim has been to get together as many as possible of a certain class, irrespective of capital, or the other qualifications necessary for Bush life. This, however, has not been the only or main obstacle to the prosperity of our Special Settlements. Tho want of roads, and money to make them, the utter impracticability of the Fencing Act, and the clauso referring to residence, have been the causes which have operated most adversely. These points in the Special Settlement Act call for immediate attention and change, and till this is done, small capitalists with families to support can never succeed in making homes for themselves in the Bush. There seems the prospect, however, that intending Bush settlers will in future have a new and altogether unexpected difficulty to contend with and ono which will prove equally as detrimental as want of roads &c. This is tho price now put upon the land. Whilst tho open lands have been sold, in most cases for a few shillings, tho price now put upon timbered land, except in inaccessible places, or where the soil is useless for occupation, places it boyond the roach of any who have not a considerable command of capital. From 30s to £4 was the upset price of the land recently exposed for sale between Kopua and Ormondville. How many labouring men could afford such a price, and how could any expect a return for their money supposing they were foolish enough to give it ? Bush land is dear enough as a gift. Better for any man to give £2O per aero for tho laud recently sold at Hastings than settle on ordinary Bush land for nothing. It must be remembered that the cost of clearing is enormous ; that for the first five years little or no return can be expected ; that there are constant losses from fire ; and that no settler who takes up the land can ever expect to sec it ploughed. Such being the ease, if small settlement is to be really encouraged, all Bush land that is not covered with valuable timber should be sold on the most favorable terms, and at the lowest figure that would cover cost of survey and original purchase ; and unless this is done, men of limited means will never be ablo to settle upon the land, and will have no prospect of securing permanent homes for themselves and their families. It is, therefore, to be hoped that, whichever party holds the reins of power, tho restrictions which have hitherto operated so injuriously to special settlement will be speedily removed, and that Bush land, without having the “ eyes” and “ heart” picked out of it, will be offered to bona fide settlers at such a price as will bring it within the reach of men of limited means. This is the surest way to secure a happy, contented, community, and promote the real prosperity of tho province.