THE LAND REFORMERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 172, 20 July 1907, Page 6

THE LAND REFORMERS.

"WHAT MR LAURENSON THINKS.

Mr G. Laurenson, as representing the Land Reform party, indicated that he was by no means dissatisfied with the Government's land policy, as contained in the bills. "I have gone rapidly over the bills that have been laid on the table of the House this evening," he said, "and they certainly differ very materially from what was indicated in the financial statement. First and foremost, the newLand Bill gives us a 33 years instead of the 66 years' lease for Land for Settlement Act land. This is a tremendous advance on last year's proposal, and has nry heartiest approval. It will appeal to all who desire to see a real advance in the direction of land reform. Pastoral land will still be let under the 14 years' and 21 years' leases already in existence, and ( ie only land that will be subject to the 66 years' lease will be Crown land that is at present unoccupied. The nest great gain from the laud reform point of view is that for the future the Government will not be required to pay exorbitant prices for land acquired under the Land for Settlement Act, since owners will be left to fix their own value, and the land may be taken at that value, plus a percentage. If the owners put on high values they will have to pay taxes accordingly, and if their values are too low, their land may be taken. As a result, the values will be fixed at a fair figure, and, when the land is required for close settlement, it can be taken at that rate.

"Instead of all the land now in the hands of the Crown being set apart as a national endowment, an area of nine million acres only is to be reserved. I realise that this concession is necessary in order to enable the bill to get through the House. Then, the only attempt to provide for the limitation of estates is a graduated land tax, commencing at £40.000. The tax should commence at £20,000, and I hope still to achieve something in this direction. The provisions giving preference to landless people and married men and women with children in the allocation of Cfc-own lands are good, and I believe that the abolition of the ballot system in connection with Land for Settlement Act will discourage the speculator, and give the State a fairer return. Altogether, I think that although we have had to yield on some points, our gains have been considerable. If we can start the graduated tax at £20,000 instead of £40,000, the Land Bill will be a great advance upon anything which we have already been able to secure in this colony." "