LAND COMMISSION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8098, 24 March 1905, Page 6

LAND COMMISSION.

Evidence at Balclutha.

Alfred Bradneld, a freeholder, gave evidence. He advocated the freehold tenure beacuse fanners would work the ground to better advantage. He had observed that leaseholders did not work the ground to the same advantage as freeholders. James Nelson, a Crown tenant, complained that he had no road, not even a track to his farm, though he had been there seven years. He was a boliovcr in lease in perpetuity, and there were a great many settlers in the district who were in want of roads. Three years ago (before the general election), the Government cleared the road, made the cuttings for the culverts, and then, left the work unfinished. Alex. Clark Saunders, a freeholder and a member of the County Council, said the last witness made a song about his section, but as a matter of fact he had never lived on his section. He simply made it a camping ground for use when he was in the vicinity. The settlement had been started too soon. The railway should have been put in first, and the timber utilised for sawmilling.

It appeared during cross-examination that this witness was not aware of the provisions of the Loans to Local Bodies Act, which enables a County Council to borrow money on the strength of special rates levied over a rating area. He thought the wholo question of borrowing was governed by the Counties Act.

Mr McCutchan pointed out that such was not the case, and that districts in the North Island had borrowed money and levied rates for road works. If the people in the South Island did not avail themselves of the pro visions of the Loans to Local Bodies Act they could hardly be expected to be allowed to clip into the Consolidated Fund for their roads at the expense of the whole colony.

Thomas Ban , was in favour of the lease in perpetuity, and of the Land Boards as at present constituted. Witness had been twelve years on his section, and had only cleared 70 acres of bush. Mr Johnston : That's not much. Witness (emphatically): Don't you think so ? Come out alongside of me and try it (Laughter and applause from the settlers present). Glasgow Logan, a freeholder, said a man required a big heart to tackle the bush country in the Catlins district. He believed in the option of the freehold. Witness agreed that he would have done better in the North Island or in Canada. What with rain, rabbits, weeds, and bad burns, the settlers were in a bad way.

Samuel Young, storekeeper, with a 50----acre freehold and 220 acres perpetual lease, supported the freehold tenure.

Samuel Bailey came forward with a personal grievance about alleged excessive rent. The improved farm settlements in the district were distinctly a failure.

Patrick Carolan, grocer, of Dunedin, said he had been raised on the land, and was in favour of the freehold. He quoted John Stuart Mill and other writers in support of his contention, and cited Belgium and France as countries in which the freehold tenure worked to great advantage. -Pott.