Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-02-23
should support several thousand farm


ers,
"As that time" Premier Seldom went
on, there seemed a craze for large
farms. The small holders were bought
out by these large ones Corporations
were formed In England to get control
Of the New Zealand lands.
The lands were managed for Syndi-
Gates and the tenants were squeezed In
every possible way to increase the divi-
dends. In parliament here 1t was as
serted that the manager OF one Of these
absentee land companies had made a
speech In the directors meeting In Lon
don apologlzlng because he could only
declare dividend and bonus of 10
per cent at that time, and stating that
the shareholders must not look for
higher dividends until the wages in New
Zealand were reduced The tenants
were charged such high rents that there
was no money in farming The
small holdings were mortgaged so
that the farm owners paid as
much as the renters, and In the mean
time the most Of the money was going
to England, Times became hard and
our population began to fall off. This
showed us that we must change the
system, and we adopted the present
methods to get back the lands and put
them in the hands Of the people"
Are there many large farms left?"
Eyes, a great many" replied Premier
Seldom. You see, our new system has
been recently adopted and IL Is one
which Is necessarily slow. We have In
New Zealand all told about 1900 600
acres occupied as farms or ranches,
They are in the hands of 90 600 persons.
M fhaga
each, and nearly 400 own between TO-
900 and $4,000 acres each. In all the
holdings 81 per cent are under 800 acres
and 5S per cent are of 100 acres or less.
1--WE have already spent more than
a million pounds buying up private
estates and throwing them open to the
people. We have bought about seventy
estates having an area Of something
| like $4,000 acres, The lands are not
bought directly out Of the government
| funds, but the money for them IL raised
| In England at 3 per cent Interest on
| long time. The government guarantees
| the payment Of the notes and this Is
also secured by mortgage on the land,
! The government charges 4 per cent to
| purchasers on longtime leases. II
| charges Q per cent on the lease with
| the advances for Improvement added
| but as this Is on the actual cost price
! of the unlmproved land II makes very
| low rental. OF the money received
! per cent goes 10 the paying OF the inter
est, per cent pays the expenses OF the
administration, etc, and the other | per
cent Is put into sinking fund which
viii eventually pay off the purchase
notes and vest the land in the govern
nent. | refer Of course, to land leas-
ed 80
ION what conditions are the lands
| given 60 settlers
We have different methods of diyis-
ion and payment" replied the premier.
The people can buy the lands outright
or they can lease them with the pur-
| chasing clause. or they can lease them
for 1913 years, or practically In perpetu-
| ity. This is at the option OF the setter.
| Ii the man wants to buy for cash he
| pays one-fourth of the purchase money
down and the rest within thirty days.
| II he wishes To purchase ANA has not
the money he can lease the land, paying
per cent annually on its cost to the
government. Such lease runs for
twenty five years. with the right Of
purchase at the first price at any time
after ten years, or he can lease It on
4 per cent OF its cost for 999 years.
"The government buys the land and
aids the settler In making his improve
ments, advancing the money to build
| his house and fences. etc. We require
the settlers to live upon the land. They
| must make Improvements to the
| amount of So per acre and must cult
| Natc a certain portion Of II. We find
! that the people like the plan, and that
| they are taking aaV0n tage of IL, Near
| ~ every estate that we have taken up
is settled Land which has been used
| for raising sheep Is now raising men
and we have a prosperous farming
| community In a score % places which
were formerly occupied by but few
shepherds
HOW ESTATES ARE CONDEMNED.
But suppose the men who own the
estates do not care To sell. Mr. Seldom.
| How does the government DO IN such
| case2"
That Is a very ensy matter" replied
the premier OF New Zealand. we fix
the value of the land and take It, pay
ing the man for 1t In bonds or cash as
| he desires
But how can YOU fix the value"
THAT Is n part Of the law said Mr..
unimproyed value and the amount upon
which taxation is levied is given I'm by
the owner OF the land. He assesses
| himself as Il were. but II Is with this
| understanding that In case the gov
| eminent wants the land II shall have
| the right Ia take Il at the valuation he
has put upon Il FOR taxes with an add
! uonal 10 per cent OF that value. This
| gives us a better tax valuation and at
the same time il provides an easy way
for the government possession OF the
| land"
THAT IS rather hard on the taXpay-
ers II seems 10 me said l.
yes. IL may seem so but remember
we do not take possession Of estates TN
less Il is for the undoubted good % the
people. So far we have taken very lit
tie land 10y forced sale. We have more
estates offered 10 us than We want
Last year hfty-seyen properties,
amounting In all to $4,000 acres. were