LAND TENURE QUESTION.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 248, 6 October 1911, Page 5

LAND TENURE QUESTION.

ADDRESS BY MR. DAVID JOXES In the Athenaeum Hall, Xapier. kirt < veiling. Mi. David Jones gave an able and interesting address to a small audit-nee. The meeting was presided over by Mr W. J. McGrath. The speaker said that the Government was not sincere or honest in their desire for closer settlement. This was proved by the fact that land values were 29 per cent below the selling price, and yet the Premier said that the price of land was so excessive that the Government could not buy. Last year only £lBO.i 00 was spent in land. By the legis latic-n that came into force three years ago. land could only be obtained at the price the big land owner choose to put upon it. The recent census showed a startling fact which had occurred for the first time in the history of Xew Zealand. viz., that the people were leaving the country and crowding into the towns. When this happened (here was something radically wrong. The c.mgestion in the cities would have to be stopped, and encouragement must be given to the people to settle on the land. Until this was dime there w..mld be no prosperity. The same applied to native lands. This quest ion u:is the most blighting one in the affairs of the Country. Five years ago there were fire million acres of .native land and not a quarter of -a million sheep were being carried. The remainder of the land was in European hands, and carrying orer twel'.e million sheep. It would profit labour and trie farmer if doser settlement took place. Str James Carroll was Xative Minister and he would do nothing, not because he was lazy but because he wa--. too c.inning. He saw that the t aiho.’. policy pa*d the best. By sitting i t it! the Ma iis were becoming (.'iciini usly iich ; they had nn taxes and railways being put through their property and I hey were reaping the benefit. Sir J. Carr. il would have to be shifted if the country was to be prc<p* r*m«. The speaker spoke strongly against Stale « wntrship if m nopolies, and ■-aid th-it l here was mailing to tear fr .-m private mom pi Iv. Ihere was the <la:ig*-r <f Sine int erference crushing all ent*rprise in Xew Zealand. A Humber of quest IO!’.-: Ill'll 1 then a-k.d, ami discussed. <)n :l.e in... i' n "f Mr. Em-t ice l.aiie 'i i> to * f ih.iiiki was pa--* 1 1 t - ihe spi ;ik< r for hi- able ami lilt- >• ' t--1 JSA Ji hil't-' l '- A Miiiilar vt.it- t i IL;uik‘- t • Ha- <_ 113innaii tt inniiaTccl llie iiu-ctnip..