LABOUR’S LAND POLICY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 June 1928, Page 10

LABOUR’S LAND POLICY.

ADDRESS BY LEADER OF PARTY

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) NELSON., June 16. M. H. ■ E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, addressed a largo meeting at Tapawera (Motueka electorate) last evening. Confining his remarkos principally to farmers, Mr. Holland said that the Government’s promises to farmers in the pre-Goveminent days had not been kept. In place of the freehold they had given the farmers the most stupendous mortage-hold and had accomplished a staggering record in land aggregation. Its policy had worked to drive men off the land. From its assumption of office the amount of money borrowed at low rates of interest had progressively diminished, while the amounts borrowed at high rates had progressively increased. The promised agricultural bank had never materialised. The Labour Party would substantially increase the death duties oil large estates. In regard to aggregation, the Labour Party would endeavour to meet the evil by two methods. It proposed to graduate more steeply the land-tax affecting the larger estates. On the other hand large estates would be acquired by purchase, by means of negotiation when possible and compulsory where necessary. The price paid for the land so acquired would bo based on a fair valuation to be made by the Valuer-General in tile first instance, with the right of appeal by the owner in the event of his being dissatisfied with the valuation. The appeal board or court would consist of representatives of land owners and local bodies in the land district affected, with a representative of the Valuation Department. Land so acquired would be used for closer settlement purposes, and the ! tenure would be perpetual lease conditional on occupancy and use, with periodic revaluation, and with the conservation of holder’s right to compensation for improvements. Existing tenures would not be interfered with. The Labour Party’s land platform declared for full recognition of the owner’s interest in all land, including- tenure, right of sale, transfer and bequest, but the fundamental principle of occupancy and use would be strictly applied. The Reform policy drove men off the land, which was demonstrated by the statistics affecting land transfers. These showed that during the past 16 years there had been three transfers to every landholder, including landholders with less than an acre each, while the number of persons working on the land had been reduced within the last three years by well over 12,000. The land agency system grew out of, and reacted upon, the mortgage system, and represented a heavy burden on both primary producers and consumers of primary produce. The Labour Party made no attack on the individual land agent; their attack was on the system, and they proposed to legislate to provide State facilities for making the necessary transfers with charges based on the work done. Mr. Holland contended that none of the land and income-tax reductions in recent years materially benefited the working farmer; on the other hand, the relief to wealthy landholders was immense. In dealying with the question of rural credits, Mr. Holland said that none of the reasons brought down would go far in the direction of helping men who were 'bona fide working land. The Labour Party proposed to initiate a State bank, with tlie sole right of note issue, and with agricultural banks as an adjunct of the State bank. . The Reform Party had crippled co-operative marketing. Mr. Holland, who Mas loudly applauded, was accorded a vote of thanks.