THE LAND BILL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14192, 15 October 1906, Page 7

THE LAND BILL.

[Pee Press Association.]

PALMERSTON NORTH, October 13. At a well-attended meeting of tho Palmerston North branch of the Farmers’ Union this morning, after discussion on the late Laud Bill, the following resolution was passed:—“That this branch is pleased to see that the Government has withdrawn the Land Bill for the present, and considers that it is desirable that before the Land Bill is forced upon the country _ the _ people should have time to consider it; and further that it should be placed before the constituencies- at next general election.” At a meeting of the Oxford Agricultural and Pastoral Association,tho following resolution was passed unanimously—“ As this meeting is of opinion that the Land Bill now before tho House is against the interest of the colony, w© respectfully request the Government to hold it over this session, to enable members to thoroughly consider its provisions and explain the same during the recess.” TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I can scarcely understand you saying that the Ministry has done tho best thing in postponing" the Bill on the frivolous and paltry excuses it has made for doing so after all the boasting w'e have heard from both the Premier and the Minister of Lands. To put fonvard the Exhibition as an excuse is ‘perfectly childish, as the House could have adjourned for a fortnight, •which would have been quite sufficient holiday for tho members, and then they could have gone on with tho Bill, and if it had taken, till Christmas to have carried it through, it would have been time and energy well spent. Ae to Mr M’Nab’s excuse for stumping the country to ventilate the measure and. explain to the leaseholders the merits of the Bill, the newspapers would done that without any cost to the country. As to the bait offered to the leaseholders, is it likely for one moment that those farmers who are lucky enough, to hold a- at loav rontal for 999 years, will be'such fools as to change it for a lease of sixty-six years, with the privilege of paying 90 per cent off the capital to reduce their annual rental by nine-tenths? _ Should they require to realise on their savings, they would only be able to do so by leaving their rent unpaid, which would take a number of years, and then they could only realise up to 40 per cent of their savings, whereas they could invest their savings in many other investments and get a much higher rat© of interest, and he able to realise at short notice. The new Ministry has made a false start, and the best and most honourable tiring it can do is to resign, ae it is a wellknow'n fact that it has forfeited the confidence of a large majority of the Liberal Party, who are utterly disgusted with their leaders, and, of course, the Opposition is likewise. If at the end of the session it folind it could not carry the Bill, then it could have appealed to the country, and there is no doilbt it w'ould have gone back stronger than ever.—l am, etc., J- CROWLEY.