194 WHEAT PRODUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND 



disadvantage can easily be overcome by the Crown 

 confining itself to the purchase of the outlying lands, 

 and offering them for settlement ; for here, the prospect 

 of ultimate freehold under the present Act is distinctly 

 encouraging to intending settlers. From this point of 

 view the present law is a distinct advance on the old 

 one.* 



New Zealand once experienced the " sweets" and 

 11 bitters" of a landed aristocracy with large estates in 

 the two decades after 1870. The democratic character 

 of our people and the antagonism to "land monopoly," 



*The general principles laid down here in regard to 

 the question of land tenure were to a large extent confirmed 

 by a discussion at the Conference of the Agricultural and 

 Pastoral Associations, in 1915, when Mr. W. D. Hunt moved: 

 "That whereas a very large proportion of the pastoral 

 lands of the South Island of New Zealand, including much 

 of the national endowment lands let for pastoral purposes 

 under Part VI. of the Land Act, 1908, and amendments thereof, 

 have deteriorated very much indeed in stock-carrying capacity 

 since they were first occupied, and whereas practically none of 

 these lands have improved in stock-carrying capacity since their 

 first occupation, now this Conference of A. and P. delegates 

 is of opinion (a) That under proper and judicious management 

 these pastoral lands could not only be brought back to their 

 original carrying capacity, but they can be made much more 

 productive than ever. (&) That the bringing about of this 

 improvement will require the expenditure of a large amount 

 of capital and time, (c) That the occupiers of these lands 

 cannot be induced to make the necessary outlay of time and 

 money unless they can see a reasonable assurance of being 

 rewarded for their efforts and outlay, (d) That the only tenure 

 that will give this assurance is the freehold, (e) That the 

 Government be urged to introduce legislation enabling the land 

 to be disposed of as freehold under suitable conditions and 

 restrictions." (Proceedings of the Conference, page 26). 



In the discussion which followed, it was contended that the 

 only means of encouraging adequate development in these lands 

 was to offer a tenure with the right of purchase on easy terms. 

 This principle was not advocated for the more settled areas, 

 and thus bears out the general principle laid down by the 

 present writer. 



