MORE FREEHOLD

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 86, 8 October 1920, Page 7

MORE FREEHOLD

PROPOSALS FOR ROTORUA

OPPOSITION INDICATED

The hold-up which the Government experienced in securing the passage 01 the Te Aroha Leases Bill is likely to be repeated, for yesterday the Government introduced in the House of Representatives a measure to grant the freehold in Rotorua. As soon as the measure appeared there were indications of fortlf* coming opposition, and immediately the House went into Committee to consider the Governor-General's Message, half-a-dozen members rose to their feet to ask the contents of .the measure.

"I think that every member of the House knows that there has been an insistent demand for this Bill," said the. Minister of Lands (Hon. D. H. Guthrie), "and it ,has been before the House previously." Mr. Isitt: "And always been rejected." The Minister continued that while the National Government was in office the measure could not be introduced for reasons that were well known. Ever since 1881 or 1883 the development of the town had had to be done out of Government funds. If they were to give the town the position that it should occupy, the only way to do it was to give that security of tenure that the leaseholders did not possess at present. In giving the freehold they were not going to part with the mineral springs' or any of t.hu attractions o.f which the Government had full control. Ther© had been a lack of accommodation for some time in the town. "

Mr. Parry,: "It is a rual Ned Kellv proposition." The Minister said that the leaseholders were not to get the freehold at less than the value.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Wilford) asked what provision was being made for sub-lessees.

The Minister said that this was provided for. • Ho said that he wished the measure to go before the Lands Committee as soon as possible, so that all the evidence required might be called. It is unusual for the House to discuss a measure when it has just been introduced and,before the.Bill has been circulated or its contents fully explained,, but apparently in this case the House, or some of the members, thought they knew quite enough of the Bill to make every post a. starting post in opposition. Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton) said the freehold wasl to be granted to meet the insistent demand of a small section; but there had ben an insistent demand from the whole of the community for a reduction in the cost of liring. What steps had the Government taken to grant that? The leaseholders had far more security of tenure than many freeholders, and if their buildings were dilapidated and out of repair, it was because they had allowed them to become so, as they were expecting the freehold. The Government reserves were to be retained, but the grant of the freehold was going to mean that the people who wished to take advantage of the baths and other attractions would have to pay more for accommodation.

Mr. Hockly : "Nothing of the kind." Mr. Witty said that no doubt Mr. Hockly was pledged to try and obtain the freehold; but they had to look at the matter not from the point of view of Mr. Hpckly, but the view of the whole Dominion. They had given, the freehold to Te Aroha, and now they were proposing it for Rotorua. Next it would be the national endowments, and no one would know where it would stop. "Bribing a section of the people with the assets of the whole of the people" was the way in whioh Mr. J. M'Comba (Lyfctelton) described the measure. Ct was a policy of plunder. There was no clearer case where value ,had been increased by expenditure by the State* and now it was proposed to give the benefit of that increase to a few people,' because they had given support to a member of the party. Sir William Herries : "Th«y have not always done that."

Mr. M'Combs : "They have made a very good start this session."

Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon) suggested that the measure should be called a Bill for the spoliation of the people of New Zealand.

Mr. T. W. Rhodes: "A rose by aayi other name."

Mi. Sullivan contended that the Government had no right to.sell the property of the people and of the children. Mr. J. Edie (Bruce) said the security of tenure was quite good enough. Ninety-nine years lease was good enough for anyone. If it were decided to sell the la-nd, the proper way was to sell it under the hammer.

Dr. Thacker (Christchurch Bast) said the measure looked very much like spoils to the victors. Next they Vould hear that Hanmer and the Cold Lakes tourist resorts were to be sold.

Mr. Holland (Buller) announced that the Labour Party would fight the measure from start to finish.

Mr. G. W Forbes (Hurunui) argued that this case ■was- entirely different From Te Aroha.

Mr. Holland: "The principle ie the same."

Mr. Forbes maintained that the principle was different, as at Rotorua the development had been carried out by the State and the funds went to the State.

Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North) said he did not consider it was a question o£ leasehold v. freehold. Members on the Government side might very well have allowed this Vast of the leasehold towns to remain. -If the Government were to insist on this it should be thoroughly logical, and if it said that leasehold was thoroughly bad between the Government' and the individual it should decree that there should be no leasehold between one individual and another. ,

The Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill) said the people were having just what they deserved, because they neglected to look after their own interests.

Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central): "The people of the country do not stand for this kind of steal —-"

The Chairman: "I must ask the honourable member- "

Mr. Fraser: "Very well, for this kind of legislation" The majority of the people, he said, certainly did not vote for this kind of thing. The Bill appeared last session, but it was dropped, and was not put in the forefront of the Government's platform. It reminded him of a, story in the Arabian Nights, in which forty men were concerned—in this case there were forty-five, he believed.

Sir William Herries (Tauranga) said Rotovua. was -worse served by the Government than any other town. There was a condition "that no rates should be levied in the town, and if funds were needed they had to come out of the Consolidated Fund. Tho leases would be sold at "community-created values." The reserves and baths were being retained. Mr. Kellett: "For how long?" Sir William Herries : "Well, for ever."

Mr. Parry: "Till the next election." Sir William Herries said a. borough would ba formed to maintain the roads, which were at present a charge on, the (Jovetnnwit. Tha tawn&pcopla were not anxitfto to take over the bathj, aa a^reafc

deal of money would have to be spent in re-erection of buildings and improve- j ments. A member asked how much this would cost, and the Minister was understood to reply "some thousands." Mr. Mitchell: "And the lessees are to have the benefit of all that." The Minister said the Government would be the gainer, because it would be rid of the burden of maintaining thfl municipal part oi: the town, and wouldl j receive the community-created value. j A suggestion that all lessees might not i chdbse to take the freehold was greeted j with derisive laughter. The Minister said he thought he waa I .right in saying that the Leader of the Opposition had expressed himself in favour of giving the freehold. A division was called for on the (motion that provision be made, as suggested ml the message. The vote resulted :— For, 38; against, 25. The voting was j as follows :—

Ayes: Anderson, Bitchener, Bollard 1, Bjirnatt Coates, Diokson, J.'M'C, Dickson J. S., Field, Glenn, Guthrie, Hamilton, A., Hamilton, J. R., Henare, Herries', Hockly, Hudson, Hunter, Jones, Lee, Luke, Lysnar, M*Leod, M'Nicol, Mander, Massey, Nosworthy, Parr, Poland, Pomare, Potter, Powdrell, Reed, Rhodes, R. H., Rhodes, T. W., Smith, R, W., Stewart, Sykes, Wilford. Noes : Atmore, Bartram, Edie, Forbes, Fraser, Harris, Holland, Horn, -^toward, Isitt, Kellett, M'Oombs, Maisters, Mitchell, Newman, A. X., Ngata, Parry, Savage, Sidey, Statham, Sullivan, ThacSer, Veitch, Witty, Wright. Pair (Aye) : Nev/man, E. (No) Hanan.