The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1890. THE MINISTER OF LANDS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume X, Issue 2588, 2 December 1890, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1890. THE MINISTER OF LANDS.

In his address at Wynd.ha.rn recently the JVimister of Lands stated that during the last six months one out of every six selections of land taken up was an extension of previous holdings, while the remaining five selectors were persons who previously held no land whatever. This statement was made as a refutation of the charge that the boasted land settlement of the Government had merely been the granting of facilities to persons <vho were already large holders to increase their holdings. We do not doubt that the Minister's statement is literacy correct. But it is a i?a4 £oUse3»ion to make that one out of evevj 4* #eloptors was an individual who at ready iiftd # jFajr shart of the public estate, while nmny landless persons who applied for the same holdings had, under the ballot systom, been unable to seen re them. One out of every six is a large propor- | Hon—~too large, m fact. But it would not be so bad if the matter rested

there. Unfortunately there is good I grounds for suspicion that the .majority ( of the other five persons who secured holdings are still landless. The names of the selectors under a system which permits of family dummying, friendly dummying, and official dummying, is no guarantee as to who are the real proprietors of the lamt that has passed \ from the hands of State. Tf the true J facts could only be ascertained we are afraid it would be found that four out of every six selections during the Ministerial reign.: lias been merely an extension of previous holdingsf The Dumroyism Inquiry Commission which sat during last session let a flood of light m upon this, important, subject.. It also let a little! light, into tlie. subject of perpetual leasing and the reason why that system became so suddenly pOjiulAr; The perpetual leasehold was 'instituted mainly because it was desired that the State should retain possession of some of its land, and also that it might bo placed within the means of men of small capital to go upon the land and cultivate it without expending all the:r capital m n. first purchase.. But the bottom was knocked put of the perpetual leasehold, by the present Minister of, Lands through the introduction of a' purchasing clause. This made it ait easy matter for the then freeholders to add to their holding a lease-^ hold. The leasehold m such cases^ practically a purchase, and the land thus ' bbtain.ecl will never go back into the hands of the State if the holders can prevent it. The residential qualification — the strong-: est and surest safeguard against dummyism—was also dispensed with, and everything ordered so that land speculators and jobbers could play ducks and drakes with the public estates. The Minister of Lands knows all this, but he would throw dust m the eyes of the country, and still boasts of the bona tide settlement that has taken playe under his administration. Evidently a large section of his own constituents don't believe him, as we observe that at a meeting at Gore the other evening a vote of thanks, but no-confidence, was passed. The Mataura electors m this matter represent tlie view 3of the country fairly well. They recognise that a large quantity of land has been disposed of, but they are by no means satisfied with the method of its disposal, am! Ministerial figures are accepted cum grano salts.