WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1925, Page 1

WELLINGTON NEWS

LABOUR'S LAND LAWS.

(Special to “Guardiwi”.) WELLINGTON, April 20.

The annual conference of the Labour delegates has been held in Wellington this Faster, and it is amusing to note how very seriously the delegates take themselves. They consist mainly of men with well paid “ cushy ” jobs, such as secretaries or presidents or whatnot of Labour unions. The conference recently laid down its land policy which is calculated to have the same effect- in curtailing or even stopping production. All privately owned land is fo he valued by the State, and that valuation is to he the landholders’ interest in the land. No sale or transfer ol privately owned land can he made except to the State, and the owner is to have the right to surrender liis land to the Stale at the valuation. There can he no objection to the proposal that privately owned land shall not he sold or transferred except to the State, for this is merely an amplification of the Dairy Control Board's proposal under nbosluto control, for under this scheme privately owned and manufactured butter and choose cannot he sold lor export except through the Dairy Control Board. It is a safe enough precedent for Labour iu respect In its land laws, if -it is right to restrict the sale of butter and cheese as proposed by the Dairy Control Board, it- cannot he wrong to restrict the sale of land as proposed by the Labour Baity. What the Labour conference aims at is “ a land tenure based upon occupancy and use, which shall secure to the working farmer the full fruits of his labour and exertions.” The right of inheritance is not interfered with. But- land policies depend on finance, and if privately owned land is to he sold only to the State, how is the State going to pity for it. Payment is to lie made in bonds. The State will fix the value of the property through its valuers who will no doubt ho men in the ” Labour movement ” looking for soft well paid jobs. But will the bonds have any value? -Most of the land in New Zealand is privately owned, and to buy it at even a low Government valuation would mean millions of money and the continual issue of State- bonds to pay lor properties which the State must huv would depreciate the bonds and belore very long they would become as cheap as German marks wen'. The scheme is

too crude for serious consideration, but there are thousands of workers who must realise that it a Labour Government gets into power and land laws on the lines described are put into operation. their properties would slump in value’s by more than oil per cent. Labour’s hind policy does not look good

even on paper. COUNTING THE CHICKENS. A feeling of'•absolute confidence appears to animate the “ cushy job section of tiie Labour Party, that is the secretaries and other union ollieers. They seem to fee! it in their hones that Labour will he the dominant party after next election, and will bo in control of the Treasury Benches. It. is possible that the members of the Mmist rv hnvo alrosulv boon (loculed upon, at all events it >s certain that Koval Commissions are to he appointed by the Labour Government- when it gels

into !lower. One may be pardoned tor wondering whether Labour would have anytime for anything “ Boyal. I’.aitiKovallv and cheap -neers at Eli'.-

pile and mud-slinging at loyalty and patriotism arc tbe stock-in-trade- ol litany Labourites who thereby secure a little cheap notoriety. But Labour is counting its chickens belore they ate hatched, and the Labour Batty will f"t a cortaiuitv discover that tlicie is a great deal of force ill the old saw ” the best laid schemes of men and mice gang oft aglce.” Bolilical undercurrents. sea reel v perceptible to the ordinary individual, and still less to thu Labour leaders who do not wish to see Ju'tii, are in motion that will hate a potent iuHuence on the politics ol the ■omit rv. It is yet too early it. give any indication of the lorn; and ditecof these undercurrents for limit ,’clocitv and swiftness of movement mist depend on other circumstances vhich cannot he referred to but which mist he obvious; It is sheer stupidity m the part of the Labour to udieve that the electors of New Zeaarc so apathetic as to allow their lestinics to In 1 controlled and slut pod IV any hand of Bolsheviks. Labour is loing a lot of talking in the hope that t udl] he regarded as effective |>roaa.rauda, hut at the right moment •ahour’s bluff will he called. If is not vorth while heaving bricks at the

party now, for there is plenty of time between now ami the dissolution ol Parliament for the preparation ol the bricks. The dangers of the position are fullv recognised !>v the people, am every oiie agrees that something must he done, and something will be done to meet the situation. Labour's lam policy, the more it is examined ami explained the more hkelv ‘s it l» harden up the ranks of the a,.t.-Lnhour voters.