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 
‘‘pitters’’ 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 « 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. (6) 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 
restri¢tionus.’’ (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. 
