The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-03-22

we do not take possession OF estates un-
less II Is for the undoubted good of the
people. So far we have taken very lit
tie land by forced sale. We have more
estates offered to us than we want.
Last year ffty-seven properties,
amounting In all to $4,000 acres, were
offered to the Government 81 those
about half have been declined or with
drawn and of the remaining 100000
acres under consideration Just about
100000 have been recommended for pur-
chase"
In talking with one of the officials
about the new land settlements l was
told how the Government acquired one
of the largest OF its new estates The
land belonged to a man named Ready
Money Robinson, He had bought a
large part of II more than half a CEN
fury ago. paying a little more than 81
an acre for It, Altogether about 10000
acres were in the tract. comprising some
very rich agricultural territory which
was at the time devoted to sheep-rais-
wv The assessed value OF the land
woe equal to 81 500 900 which was just
conn o00 more than the owner thought It
ought to be taxed. He objected and the
Co"o~nment thereupon took possession
Of tho land upon his valuation. with 10
rer cont added. The land officials re-
cv~voved the estate and divided II up
TITO e"rn1s Of from fifty to one hundred
acros each and of pastoral ranches Of
f~or' five hundred to three thousand
"~"es. They laid out a town site and
three village sites and then built
railroad through the estate. Altogether
they spent about 5000 900 In opening It
ur and then offered the lands to the
people. They were rapidly taken up
upon the usual Government terms. and
at the end of six years the Government
was receiving 81 per cent on its eN-
penditures. Instead of big sheep
ranch the estate was made UP Of small
farms. Land formerly used for graz
ing was yielding fort five bushels of
wheat to the acre and there were II 600
acres of 1t in English grass. Aside
from the agricultural development more
wool and mutton was being shipped
from the estate than when it was all
devoted to sheep. In the neighborhood
OF $4,000 sheep and lambs are still ex-
ported from 1t every year. When the
Government took that estate the en-
ployes upon 1t numbered something like
a score. 1t supports now more than
1000 people and It Is spotted with pref
ty farm homes, with school houses here
and there.
In a chat with Mr.. Edward Tregear
I asked him how he could reconcile the
action of the Government in forcing the
estate owners to give up their lands
with the rights Of property. He re-
Piled:
I'VE do not look upon land as upon
other property. Land should belong to
the state. 1t is given to 1t by the Lord,
to be held in trust for the people. 1t
Is all right for a man to own the i'm
provements he makes upon the land and
to be allowed to sell them or 10 lease
them to his descendants. but as to the
land itself I don't think God ever in
tended any one man to own vast
tracts for all time. or to allow him to
say this land shall no the property of
his children and grandchildren to the
tenth generation.
Take for instance a man like Ad-
miral Dewey. He did a great thing
when he defeated the Spanish in the
bay of Manila and your Government
ought to feel grateful to him. I should
think 1t all right If II expressed its
gratitude in honors and presents Sup
pose 1t gave him a million dollars as a
reward for his services. That would be
all right but 1t would not be right for
1t to grant him and his descendants
900 acres of land This would be
equal to a pension Of 100000 year
to his descendants for all time to come.
1t would be mortgaging the property
of future generations. 1t would be rob-
bling posterity OF It's rights. I don't
think the Government has any more
right to sell large tracts OF land than
1t has to give them away. The ideal
method would be for the Government
to own the land and lease 1t, and that
lis what we some day hope to accom-
plish here. AS 1t is now, I think we
have dissipated the hopes of those who
wish to build up great estates for fam
lily inheritance. No one dreams of that
now, for the people know that the
Government will eventually divide
them"
I think Mr.. Tregear Is right. New
Zealand will eventually become a land
of small farms, although 1t may take
years to make 1t so. BY the present laws
no man who has more than GAO acres
of land can obtain any of the public
lands. The land officials will not grant
more than this amount and they will
not give an applicant more than they
think he can develop and care for. AS
1t is, there are far more applicants for
the lands offered than there are lands
to give them. The Government land
agents examine all the applicants and
those who pass their examinations are
allowed to ballot for the lands dstrih-
Iuted. The Government, in fact, divides
the land, more as a father among his
children than as a land Spectator.