FIELD FOR CAPITAL AND LABOUR. 191 



of capital and enterprise of the majority of the sheep- 

 farmers. There is no doubt, however, of its advisability ; 

 and I do not hesitate to say that so doing would more 

 than double the capacity of the land for carrying stock, 

 thereby amply, abundantly recompensing the outlay, and 

 I earnestly recommend the practice. 



The Government or public land question is one that is 

 at present much discussed. The traditional ' clinging ' of 

 the governing powers to the public lands in the expecta- 

 tion of obtaining high prices at some future date, and the 

 putting of a minimum price on these lands which they 

 offer in the market, is one of the great errors of legislative 

 and political economy which restricts enterprise and 

 national development ; but it must be admitted that the 

 question is one which presents difficulties in its solution. 

 There is a wide field for 'jobbing ' involved in it, and the 

 Legislature is naturally jealous of innovation which might 

 give rise to such a result. 



Public opinion is fairly awakened and is passing through 

 the usual ' throes ' preparatory to its definitively pro- 

 nouncing itself and resolving into action. As I write 

 this the Government has met with failure in an attempt 

 to auction lands, fixing a minimum price considered to 

 be above the market value. Distant unsettled lands, as 

 involving risk and some considerable outlay in ' settling ' 

 and stocking them, must go for low figures to induce 

 settlers to take them ; and some of the frontier lands 

 would, as far as the public interest is concerned, be ad- 

 vantageously disposed of if given away with exemptions 

 from taxes, military service (other than guarding the pos- 

 sessions themselves), on the condition of ' settling ' them ; 

 and I am led to believe that the Legislature would be 

 disposed to give lands, situated at different points of the 

 frontier, for the purpose of colonization, to individuals or 



