THE LAND GUESTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 271, 13 November 1909, Page 5

THE LAND GUESTION.

CONSTERNATION IN LEASEHOLD CAMP. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. It is not going too far to say that the land proposals outlined in the Budget have spread consternation among the ranks* of those members of Parliament whose political creed is summed up in , one word, " leasehold." Thoy con- [ sider, after some reflection, that nei- | ther the advocates of the freehold nor the , advocates of the leasehold fully recognise . the advantages that have been gained, nor the ground that has been lost. With every desire to facilitate the land acquisi- , tion of the Crown, they say that no , provision has been made to combat the int herent tendency towards the unearned increment; that while the Crown awaits I the proper time to purchase a property the value of that property is steadily and j automatically rising and rising, often by L reason of the expenditure of public funds 5 from which will thereafter have to be 5 drawn the moneys necessary for the ac- > quisition of the land the price of which > has been so exalted. At the present moment the leaseholders "pure and simple" in the popular Chamber are not inclined ' to give free expression to their views, but they consider that they have been subjected to an affront in the house of their friends, and that, to use a Parliamentary colloquialism, "they will have to carefully consider their position." A few weeks ago Sir Joseph Ward assured the House that the land question would be disposed of this session; the leaseholders are equally certain that nothing of the kind will be done.