UNDERMINING LIBERAL LAND LAWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 184, 6 August 1925, Page 10

UNDERMINING LIBERAL LAND LAWS.

(To the. Editor.)

Sir,—The charges levelled against Reform, in connection -with their foolish land legislation, although of a very serious nature, have not evoked any reply so far as I have seen. . When party backers are. absolutely, silenced by spec!-' fie charges of a definite and damaging nature there is only one conclusion to be drawn. First they repeal the very wise precaution, placed on the statute book by the Liberals,- designed .to /prevent governments "falling in" over.land, "purchases and then they give the Minister a free hand—a very free hand with millions sterling in it—sp that'he can buy land irrespective of the valuation set on it by the Valuation Department. The whole ..thing, is a bad. scandal, and Reform cannot even claim-that they, were not warned beforehand against, the State going into' the .'.land iriarket with what was practically an operi; invitation ,to all and sundry "to "take it down." Mr. Hall. Skeltbri has also charged Reform with illegally buying land from members of the LegislatLye Council.. Is that not worth a reply?! Also.with increasing the legal maximum. area of holdings by a subterfuge, i.e.', .first leasing blocks far above the specified areas, and then converting, these leases into freeholds. There was" a time . when -"His Majesty's Opposition" declared that they would 'make some damaging revelations when the Liberal "pigeon holes" came"under their control.' Noth r ing happened. Now it is. ..time to look ,to the pigeon holes with special reference to transactions in land, ' and land legislation, generally,, including the tails of Government valuations of lamf bought at enormous prices. These figures will not be.-.volUn'tarUy, disclosed, but members of Parliament should insist on their production;—l am, etc/

LIBERAL.