LABOUR AND LAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 141, 16 June 1928, Page 10

LABOUR AND LAND.

LEADER EXPLAINS POLICY. "OCCUPANCY AND USE." REFORM'S RECORD CONDEMNED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) NELSON", this day. Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P.. Leader of the Parliamentary Labour party, addressed la large meeting at Tapawera, in the Motueka electorate, last evening. He referred to the United party as a most extraordinary political organisation, composed chiefly of remnants of the old Liberal party and the more extreme element of the Reform party. Those who wanted to see the Reform Government displaced, he said, had no choice but to vote for Labour. Obviously a party whose constitution Was hardly known and whose policy was not yet revealed could not be a factor in "the coming election. Confining his remarks principally to farming questions, Mr. Holland said the Government promises to farmers in pre<<overnment days had not been kept. In place of freehold it had given the farmers a stupendous mortgage-hold and had accomplished a staggering record in land aggregation. Its policy had worked to drive men off the land. Since its assumption of office the amounts of money borrowed at low rates of interest had progressively decreased, while the amounts borrowed at high rates had progressively increased. The promised agricultural banking had never materialised. Labour's Remedies for Aggregation. Mr. Holland said the Labour party] would substantially increase the death duties on large estates. It would attempt to meet the aggregation evil by two methods. It proposed to graduate more, steeply the land tax affecting larger estates, and, on the other hand, large estates would be purchased, after negotiation, if possible, but compulsorily where necessary. The price for land so acquired would be based on a fair valua-j tion, to be fixed by the Valuer-General in the first instance. The owners would have the right of appeal in the event of their being dissatisfied with the valuation. The Appeal Board or Court would

owners arid the local bodies in the land district affected, together with a representative of the Valuation Department. The land sr> acquired would l>e used for closer settlement purposes, and the tenure would be perpetual lease, on conditions of occupancy and use. There would be a periodic revaluation, and the holder would have the right to compensation for improvements. Existing tenures would not be interfered with. Land Agency System Denounced. The Labour party's land platform, said Mr. Holland, included full recognition of the owners' interest in all land, including tenure, the right of sale, and of bequest, but the fundamental principle of occupancy and use would be strictly applied. The Reform policy drove men off the land, and this was demonstrated by statistics affecting land transfers, which showed that in the past sixteen vears there had been three transfers to every land-holder, including land-holders with less than an acre each, while the number of persons working on the land had been reduced within the last three vears by well over 12.000. The land a.aencv system grew out of and reacted upon the mortgage system, and represented a heavy burden on both the nrimary producers and the consumers of primary produce.

The Labour party made no attackon the individual land agent. Its attack was on the system, and it proposed to legislate to provide State facilities for making the necessary transfers, with charges based on the work done. Taxation and Rural Credits. Mr. Holland contended that none of the land and income tax reductions in recent years had materially benefited the working farmer. On the other hand, the relief to wealthy landholders was immense. Dealing with rural credits. Mr. Holland said none of the measures brought { down would go far in the direction of nelping the men who were genuinely! working the land. The Labour party i proposed to initiate a State bank, with e sole right of note issue, and with agricultural banks as adjuncts. The Reform party had crippled co-operative marketing. 1 Yesterday was the anniversary of the signmg of Magna Carta, said Mr. Holland, but m Western Samoa, New Zeahad abrogated principles which every Britisher should uphold In conclusion, Mr. Holland said that a vote for tne United party would be a vote for Mr. Coates. The Labour party on coming into office would not write the laws in various class interests but would set out to build a sound superstructure on the foundations that Batlance and Seddon bad laid. Mr. Holland was loudly applandwlaad. —m