MORE CRITICISM OF LAND SALES BILL

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 271, 11 August 1943, Page 6

MORE CRITICISM OF LAND SALES BILL

Ratepayers’ Viewpoint BUREAUCRATIC CONTROL FEARED “There can be no worth-while policy of rehabilitation which does not provide freedom from oppression and prevent abuse of power and authority,” says the Wellington Ratepayers’ Association in a statement issued last night. “The Servicemen’s 1 Settlement and Land Sales Bill introduced last Thursday aims at the nationalization of all urban and rural property. It will give bureaucratic control the authority to ignore the rights that are the foundation of democratic freedom and justice. “In democratic countries the function of the Government should be to encourage private enterprise and prevent abuses by wisely considered legislation for the purpose of control. , , . “The development ot New Zealand has come in the main from private enterprise and without this private enterprise New Zealand would have remained an insignificant and insecure outpost of the Empire. “Similar to other countries, we have problems to solve, but the solution will not be found in nationalization of all things, but rather in the people’s determination to continue what 100 years.of British settlement and private enterprise (free from the corroding effect of undue State control and interference) has already achieved. These are the ideals sacrifices are being made to perpetuate, and, for this reason alone, the Bill directed at filching the democratic rights of individuals calls for condemnation in its present form. “To the danger of all concerned, unfortunately. there are people convinced that true democracy has run its course and that the freedom of the individual is not consistent with the working of the State machine—a false doctrine and dangerous. New Zealanders were never destined to become mere cogs in a State machine. , .... , “This association is certain that in advocating that the Bill be referred immediately to (he appropriate committee of the House and with ample time allowed for those desiring to appear to present their views, it is indicating a lino ot action beneficial to the purported intention of the Bill and to all those likely to be affected by its provisions. “To rush a Bill possessing such farreaching powers of change through Parliament during the dying hours of its last session will be inimical to the democratic traditions of this Dominion and indeed to its economic welfare.”

WORKERS’ SUPPORT

Necessity Seen For Bill STABILIZATION PRINCIPLE The intention of the Government to stabilize the value of land is endorsed by the Labourers’ Federation,, which states that the proposed legislation is a logical corollary on stabilization of tiio price of labour. “When the stabilization of wages and working conditions was introduced by regulation the action was hailed by newspapers and persons in authoritative positions as being a well-thought-out and necessary procedure,” said the secretary of the Labourers’ Federation, Mr. P. M. Butler, speaking on behalf of that organization yesterday. “Over recent months the transactions in the transfers of land, both urban and rural, have been phenomenal, and some such transactions bear all appearances of gambling and speculation. The result has 'been that land values have soared but of proportion to relative real wages, and it must be obvious that if the price of labour was stabilized and pegged, and land values were allowed to. soar, the consequence would be a drastic reduction in the value of the money wages. “The reducing of purchasing power by this means would be more objectionable than if done in an open manner, for while the worker and. persons on fixed incomes, such as pensioners, persons on superannuation, widows, etc., would receive the amounts stated on paper as previously; yet the buying power of such amounts would be reduced without their knowledge. In other words, notwithstanding the pegging of the price of labour, inflation in its worst form would ensue, but the worst effects would be borne by the wage workers and by the pensioners and others on fixed amounts. “Honesty then, apart from any other consideration, demanded that the necessary action should be taken to stabilize land values to prevent unseen inflation attacking the very foundations of our economic structure. “The Labourers’ Federation strongly supports the Government in its endeavours to prevent this legal pilfering from the mass of the people of their right to maintain, as far as is possible, their present purchasing power. Debate in House “It is as well to bear in mind,” said Mr. Butler, “that while the pegging of wages was introduced by means of an Order-in-Council and little opportunity ■was given to the workers to make submissions in connexion with the regulations, it is proposed to stabilize the land values by legislation, thus enabling the proposition to be considered by the people and debated on the floor of Parliament. The distinction shown between property and labour service in 'this regard does not appear to be appreciated by those whose interests are mainly concerned with property. The distinction, however, is not lost on the workers. Introducing the matter by legislation has enabled those opposed to the principles of the Bill to give expression to their opposition. “In a lengthy statement published yesterday the Law Society made a strong attack not only on the Bill button the principles and the intentions of the measure in extravagant language. One would expect from such a body a calm and reasoned examination of the proposition, bearing in mind the equitable intention of the measure, which aims to prevent dishonest inflation.

“In place of this, the Law Society, through Mr. n. F. O’Leary, K.C., advances as a reason against the measure that it ‘will lead to evasion on a large scale.’ Surely this is an extraordinary statement from the legal fraternity. Is there any law of the land which is not subject to evasion by dishonest persons? Surely, it is the duty of the legal fraternity to assist the Government and the people to prevent the evasion of a measure aimed to cultivate the best interests of the country. Prejudice Alleged. “Again, Mr. O’Leary says, ‘the restrictions provided by the Bill will constitute a blot on the owner’s title and owners will doubt whether they own the freehold.’ Here we have an assertion based ou prejudice which is not substantiated in any degree by the proposed enactment. This assertion would appear to be an endeavour to frighten home-owners and others whose holdings will not in any way be affected by the proposed legislation. “The statement issued by the Law Society contained the following: —‘lt is understood that the proposed legislation is considered necessary as part of the stabilization policy of the Government.’ “The word ‘understood’ in the above quotation implies that Mr. O’Leary was doubtful whether the measure was aimed to complete the stabilization policy of the Government in an equitable manner. There can be no excuse for the inferred doubt, as the Prime Minister has given repeated indications in Parliament that in furtherance of the stabilization policy steps would be taken to stabilize land values. “There is no blot on the.title 01. any person’s property. The aim of the measure is to prevent unsocial speculation in land which undermines the principles of stabilization, which have been endorsed by the majority of representative organizations and by the I’ress. If unrestricted speculation in land were permitted to run riot, the whole edifice would collapse and our people would be cursed with all the horrors of inflation, which would be aggravated by the fact that wages are already pegged.” meetin~g~called The attention of those interested in the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Bill is drawn to an advertisement calling a meeting for Monday next, nt 11.15 a. tn., in the Accountants’ Ilnll. AVellington. •‘Farmersand all others interested should make a special effort to attend this meeting in order Io discuss the Bill, which, in its present form, has such serious implications to landowners —both rural and >irban t ” sewn iho N.Zk Farmers’ T Inion.