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OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
THE LAND BILL.
Tho Age directs attention to a cliango in
tho provisions of thisbill that would tond to
its hotter working. Tho issuo of licenses
nndcr tbo 42nd clanso bas boen adjudicated by
commissioners in oncn conrt. An extension of
this principle so as to mako it apply to abjudi-'
cations on forfeilurcs is desirable. This may
bo accomplished either by a clearly-expressed
nnderslnnding, or by nn amendment, trivial in
form, but calculated to bo important in results.
Oar contemporary also BUggestB that tbo
amount of land to bo selected by ono indivi
dual might bo lessoned. If not, tbo conditions
should bs moro stringent for tho lsrgor than
for tbo smaller blocks, for, remarks tho Age,
tbcro mast bo cbockB npon greediness, other
wise tho very liborality of the new land law
will bccomo a curse.
Tbo Argus doubts not tbat both Mr Grant
Mr Higinbotham moan well j thnt tbo former
is sincerely anxious lo promoto Bettloment alter
tbo pattern which bo thinks right, and tbat tbo
latter docs well to bo angry with thoso wbo
strivo to cvado tho law and to frustrato liis
pclicy, But our contemporary deems Mr
Higinbotbain'a wholo policy to bo n mere re
production of Imperialism, In bis impa
tience of any judicial restraint, and in bis
eagerness to set np tbo absolnto authority of
tbo Executive, resting on the samo basis as the
Government of tlio Fronoh Emperor rests, Mr
Higinbotham is a thorough Frenchman.
Tbo Ballarat Star, discussing tbo proposed
doab'ngs with tho squatter, expresses ils belief
tbat it is essential to tlio welfaro of this colony
tbat tbo pastoral lands shoald not bo tbo patri
mony ol any particular net of persons, bnt tbat
tboso lands should bo open lo fair competition,
just as ths runs are to bo which may bo for-
iciteu alter tns cow Lena Law comes tuio
foreo.
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