LAND SPECULATION

Grey River Argus, 19 November 1946, Page 5

LAND SPECULATION

NATIONAL PARTY Wants its Renewal SAYS PRIME MINISTER P.A. NEW PLYMOUTH, Nov. 18. “One overwhelmingly dangerous l proposition in the National Party’s policy is its proposal to amend the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act”, said the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, at New Plymouth to-night. The National Party intended to alter the basis of transactions from the 1942 land values to present day values, which, he suggested, wa& merely “subsidising land speculation”. The Nationalists were telling the electors that they did not oppose the Act, but they had denounced it time and again, said Mr Fraser. The Nationalists said they would re-introduce present day values in land transactions, and would subsidise to the returned servicemen the difference between the 1942 values and present values.

“The object of the Act is to stop land speculations, and as long as Labour is in power, it will not permit land speculations, and it. certainly would not subsidise land speculations”, said Mr Fraser. “By altering the basis from 1942 values) to present day values, the National Party will allow prices to go up, and masses of people will have to pay the subsidy, but that will not happen if Labour gets back into office”. There was a large attendance, and Mr Fraser was given an enthusiastic reception and a good hearing, with the exception of a few interjections.