LAND DEVELOPMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 101, 1 May 1930, Page 6

LAND DEVELOPMENT.

After reading Mr. W. J". Holdsworth's speech, delivered to members of the Auckland Rotary Club, I have 110 hesitation in saying that his land settlement scheme would not ultimately work out successfully. According to Mr. Holdsworth's remarks all tliat is needed is a comprehensive national scheme with adequate finance arranged to make land available for settlement. It is obvious, however, that such an undertaking would produce another land boom, resulting in further inflation of land values, although speculators and moneylenders would benefit enormously. Although the Advances to Settlers Act was a stimulant to land development when first instituted, eventually farmers were worse off than before the Act was passed, owing to fictitious land values. The present trouble is not owing to finance, but because land is too dear, and because large areas of good land are being held merely for speculative purposes. Until the price of la:id falls to its productive value it is obvious that any settlement scheme could not be a success. A wise Government would increase the land tax—taxing the speculator out of existence and make unimproved rating mandatory, thereby paving the way for gradual settlement. JOHN GUINIVEN.