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Preface.

The Title-page of this Pamphlet gives some idea of its general drift. It was originally written for, and read to the members of the Timaru Debating Society. The paper having attracted some attention in Timaru, as bearing upon a subject of great interest to every colonist of New Zealand, especially in view of the depression which at present prevails throughout the colony, I have been asked to publish it for general dissemination, After some hesitation I have been induced to adopt this course, believing as I do, that the people of New Zealand generally, and more particularly those dwelling in the large towns, have paid far less attention to the settlement of the land than the importance of that question to the welfare of the colony deserves. In the Paper, I have attempted to prove to my readers the following propositions, viz.—

1st.—That the Public Works Scheme of 1870, known as Sir Julius Vogel's Policy, contained in its original form all the elements of success, if only it had been carried out in its integrity.

2nd.—That in the original scheme, the bonâ fide settlement of the land by farmers on small blocks, was one of the essential features.

3rd.—That such settlement was frustrated, owing to the prior occupation of the country by the runholders, and the great power possessed by them as a class.

4th.—That the comparative failure of the Public Works Policy, and the present stagnation of the colony, are due in a great measure to the monopoly of so much of the best land in large estates.

5th.—That no permanent improvement in the affairs of the colony can be looked for until the majority of the large estates are broken up and settled upon by a numerous population.

6th.—That in order to hasten the above process it is desirable to abolish the Property Tax, and impose in place of it, a Land Tax on a sliding scale, increasing the amount per acre in proportion to the extent of the estate.

7th.—That no reforms in the taxation or system of land tenure can be expected, unless the Hall Ministry, representing as they do the large landed proprietors, are supplanted in office by a Liberal Ministry, representing the interests of the people at large.

8th.—That unless reforms of the above nature are speedily carried out, the colony will retrograde by reason of large numbers of those who have immigrated here, having to leave again in consequence of being unable to obtain a live lihood—this process has already commenced, to the serious detriment both of the Customs Revenue, and of the Railway Traffic Returns. Hence the title I have chosen for this Pamphlet, "Are we to stay here?" Of course, I am fully aware that the discussion of these subjects is likely to excite some degree of indignation and opposition on the part of vested interests; but I believe, that a disinterested outsider calmly reviewing the position, could come to no other conclusion than that some radical change in the land system of the colony is absolutely necessary, and must be made, in the true interests of all classes of colonists alike, as it is impossible that one class can continue to prosper for any length of time in a country so heavily burdened with debt as this is, when all other classes of the community are in a condition the very reverse of prosperous.

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