LAND SETTLEMENT MONOPOLY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13909, 7 December 1910, Page 10

LAND SETTLEMENT MONOPOLY.

» TO THE EBT.TOK OF "THE PRISS." Sir, —Farmers are gradually becoming .aware of the fact' that it is time for them to take a more active part in directing the political welfare of the Dominion. Politicians form their opinions greatly to cmi the largest section of organised voters, and it is necessary therefore for farmers to organise ior their own protection. The "Fanners' Political Protection Party," which is now being formed in Canterbury, has many objects in view, which will benefit tho whole community, and should receive the support of practically all except Socialists and singlc-taxers. The encouragement; of closer settlement is a question which vitally affects the farmer and land-owner. The closer settlement policy of the present Government has developed into a politicians' monopoly. There is no reason why the State should have the sole privilege of putting leasehold settlers on tho land, but under Hie present land tax laws that is the case. A heavy land tax and graduated land tax is placed on farmers' land for the purpose of bursting up estates, and a land owner haSiOnly two ways of escaping from these unjust taxes, one by selling to another freeholder and the other by allowing the State to resume his land for closer settlement . When the Government resume an estate, that land pays neither land tax nor mortgage tax, to the revenue of the country. But worse than not paying its fair fihare" of taxation is the fact that the interest of the foreign capital which the Government has of necessity to. borrow to purchase that land is lost' from circulation amongst our own citizens,- and has to be paid out to a foreign country. Seeing that the very life-blood is being sucked from the Dominion by having to'pay away to another country the" interest of the capital which is being borrowed for the purpose of resuming estates, would jt not be reasonable to give our own land owners an easement from taxation if they place as many leasehold settlers on the land as can be done by the State? It is an injustice to the many young New Zealanders who wish to become farmers that the Government has not given land owners at least an fosement from: graduated land tax if they subdivide their land for the purpose of leasehold closer settlement. If tho Farmers' Political Protection Party can encourage closer settlement by breaking down the barrier of taxation which has been placed between the man who wishes to lease his land to settlers and the many young New Zealanders who have just capital enough to'start life on a bit of leasehold, then it should receive the support of all fair-minded people.—Yours, etc.,

C H. ENSOR