Land tenures investigated

THE appointment by the Government of a Commission to investigate the tenures and other conditions pertaining to the southern pastoral lands of the dominion is a step of distinct interest to the people of Otago.

It is the outcome of requests made from this part of New Zealand for an inquiry concerning particularly the question of land tenures. It was nearly three years ago that Mr W. D. Hunt, speaking under the auspices of the Expansion League, in this city, delivered a very able and

comprehensive address on the whole subject of land tenures in Otago and on the effect of the existing system upon the prosperity of this city and of the provincial district as well as upon the productivity of the land itself.

The bulk of the Crown land in Otago is held under a form of lease, and it has been demonstrated, we believe beyond all reasonable doubt, that this system of tenure is not favourable to the attainment of results reflecting a high and perfectly possible standard of prosperity.

Under the present system the occupants have no sufficient inducement to improve their holdings. Only a liberal form of tenure will give them an adequate assurance that their expenditure and toil upon improvements will not go unrewarded.

Under the system of pastoral licence the tenant is tempted to endeavour to take the utmost from the land during the currency of his lease, and to put as little back into it as possible. It is held that the existence of conditions such as

these, extended over a prolonged period, has been a potent factor in the depreciation of the pastoral lands of Otago as evidenced in the diminishing return which is obtained from them. We need not, however, enlarge upon the merits of the freehold as the tenure offering the largest measure of encouragement to the occupier to improve his lands.