OPPOSITION PERSISTS IN QUESTIONS ON LAND BID

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31089, 18 June 1966, Page 3

OPPOSITION PERSISTS IN QUESTIONS ON LAND BID

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 17. The Opposition in Parliament today again questioned an American bid to buy 60,000 acres of farmland at Taupo. Yesterday, at question-time, the Prime Minister (Mr I M^****w *************‘ Holyoake) said he was aware American interests were negotiating for the purchase of high-country land in the Napier-Taupo area, but he added that although the land could be developed by New Zealanders, it was not suitable for single-unit development. Sir Basil Arthur (Opp., Timaru) had asked if Mr Holyoake was aware of the negotiations. The land is owned by a Maori trust and according to the Minister of Maori Affairs (Mr Hanan) the trust wants to sell.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk): Does the Government approve in principle the acquisition of land by absentee overseas owners? Mr Holyoake: I don’t think this affects the situation whatsoever/ Mr W. W. Freer (Opp., Roskill): What difference is there between newspapers and land? Asked by Mr R. J. Tizard (Opp., Pakuranga) if the Government would look into ways and means of obtaining the land for the benefit of New Zealand, Mr Holyoake said: “I hope the Maori trust will farm the land more adequately.” Mr A. J. Faulkner (Opp., Roskill) asked if the Government had any plan to seek power to prevent overseas interests taking over New Zealand land.

Mr Holyoake: I have no thought that we should ask Parliament for powers to prevent a Maori trust from selling land to an overseas concern.

In Parliament today when the matter was raised Mr S. A. Whitehead (Opp., Nelson) asked the Minister of Lands (Mr Gerard) if he supported the “take-over bid.” He also called for any information that would indicate that the American interests would be more capable of developing that land than Mr Gerard’s own department. Replying on behalf of Mr Gerard, the Minister of Transport (Mr McAlpine) said the Government did not intervene between a willing buyer and a willing seller. American interests would be more capable of developing the property than the Lands Department, he said. Any prospective purchaser would have to make his own arrangements for capital.

Mr Whitehead asked if Mr McAlpine agreed that the take-over of land by American interests would reduce opportunities for New Zealanders. Mr McAlpine: The land is

Government wholeheartedly endorsed the principle of overseas absentee ownership of New Zealand farmlands. “I believe in the national ■ interests this land should be developed,” said Mr McAlpine. It would be an asset to the country if someone I developed the land. Later Mr Whitehead asked I Mr Hanan if he was satisfied ■ that Maori trusts’ interests were fully protected. I Mr Hanan: Yes.

only marginally capable of economic development. It belongs to the Maori trust and the Americans are the only bidders. Anyone in New Zealand who had the money—and Mi McAlpine said he understood a large sum was involved—could purchase the land. Mr Kirk asked whether the