THE LAND DILL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14310, 2 March 1907, Page 7

THE LAND DILL.

MR M’NAB AT DARG AVILES. [From Oub Corresfonbent.] AUCKLAND, March 1. In the course of his address at Dargaville, Air M’Nab dealt chiefly with the Land Bill, much on the Jlinos of his previous speech. Mr M’Nab said that land was now up in price to £lO and £l6 an acre, and over. They were told this was owing to the development of the dairy industry; but it was also owing to. the fact that the Government was competing in the open market for large areas of land. Particulars of the lands opened during the last year in Taranaki showed that in scarcely one case had the applicants numbered less than 100, and in Hawke’s Bay there were 441 applicants for one section, which showed that all the boasted land system could not supply land to all who wanted it. The Government now had to start out in different lines. There wore estates in Now Zealand, the unimproved value of which was worth over £250,000, and the owners were to bo compelled to bring them into the market—(loud,, applause)—and then there would be from, twenty to forty people on the land where there was one before—(applause)—and all would .have the freehold. (Applause.) “Where, therefore, was the attack on the freehold? And vet he was told he was aiming a blow at the freehold. He challenged any person, unless that person had a brief for some large holders, to show that the Land Bill aimed a blow at the freehold. The people who were to take up the land were those who were to strike the blow—a blow at the monopoly that was enjoyed by a few men in this country. (Applause.) Comparing the Otago and Auckland endowments lauds, he said the fact that Otago land produced equal revenue per acre with Auckland lands, which had better climatic conditions, showed that Otago lands must be richer. He knew the whole of Otago, and knew there was an immense future before that country. Some one had called out “No good!” with reference b® Otago lands, but he (Mr M’Nab) knew the Otago lands, and he also knew something of the North Auckland lands, having travelled from 'Whangarei to Mangcnui, and if they were wise they would not’talk to him of fertility. Ho hoped that that land would yet be brought to rich aud profitable use; but

it was a problem that bad beaten every Minister for Lands yet. \