LEASE IN PERPETUITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 94, 20 April 1906, Page 2

LEASE IN PERPETUITY.

TRADES COUNCIL'S PBOPOSAIi DENOUNCED.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent)

CHRISTCHDRCH, this day.

Both morning papers are very severe, on the Trades Conference for its resolution advocating disturbance of leases in perpetuity. The "Times" characterises it as "advocating unmitigated robbery," and says: "If the conference had carried Mr Paul's compensation amendment there might have been something to be said for the confiscation proposal, it should have nothing to do with honesty in its mode. The confiscation must be outright. Might is right, and brigandage is the fashion of the moment. It is difficult to be patient with men who believe that the State has the right to resume land without paying compensation. Principles like these, if they are once brought into operation, cannot be restricted in their application. 'If the State could resume leasehold land without paying for it, there would be .no reason why it should not take freehold land without paying, and, if the State could do this thing, it could give t local bodies the same right. The Dunedin delegates did their best to save the conference from stultifying itself, but apparently their fellow delegates were bent on supplying the freehold party with ammunition. It is certain nothing will more prejudice the public against labour in politics than this advocacy of the violation of a State contract. It is not a matter of hurting people's feelings. It may be true that the elected representatives of the people blundered in authorising tbe creation of leases-in-perpetuity, but we are absolutely bound by contracts entered into with holders of the leases. In any case, as Mr. Paul said, the leaseholders could still keep the State to its original bargain.