CRITICAL VIEW

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 196, 19 August 1943, Page 4

CRITICAL VIEW

LAND SALES BILL FARMERS MOT CONSULTED (0.C.) HAMILTON, this day. Concern at the proposals of the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Bill and regret that so vital a matter had not been discussed with representatives of primary producers or farmers' organisations or even referred to a committee of the House were expressed by Mr. W. Marshall, chairman of directors of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., addressing shareholders at the annual meeting in Hamilton to-day. "In my opinion legislation to stabilise land values, both urban and rural, ought to be separated entirely from any measures dealing with settlement of servicemen on the land—they are related, but they need not be considered together, and it is undesirable that they should be," he said. "The former is a highly contentious and restrictive proposal, but the latter should be one of common agreement and determination to see that at any cost reasonable conditions of settlement are provided for ex-servicemen. To continue to deal with them as one problem may be injurious to settlement of ex-service-men, and this would be most regrettable." Mr. Marshall described the proposed method of valuation of land as radical and likely to have results which could not be foreseen, and could conceivably result in injustice to individuals who had put their whole life's work into improving a piece of farm land. The machinery appeared cumbersome and unlikely to produce a uniform policy, even if suitable committee men could be found; and that was doubtful. Much attention was being given to this valuation phase of the bill, but it was questionable if this Avas the most serious aspect. "The bill provides not only a neAV basis and method under Avhich the Cro-Cvn may acquire land but decision by Government appointees of the proposed purchasers' suitability to use the land; and possible influence as to the use that can be made of the land; thus the proposals go far beyond the question of stabilisation of land values," concluded Mr. Marshall. He hoped the bill • would not be put through until full opportunity was given for consideration and helpful comment by those who were justly perturbed.