PARLIAMENT.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2645, 11 September 1906, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

Interviewed on the Financial Statement, Mr Eraser, the member for Wakatipu, said the keynote of the proposed reforms of the land laws is to abolish the freehold tenure in regard to any land acquired hereafter. The tenant under a G6 years' lease may pay up to 90 per cent, of the capital value of his land, but at the end of the 66 years all the money then paid will bo returned to him, and beyond the fact that the land will be burdened with valuations for improvements he must compete at the baljot with the rest of the community for his farm. Tharo will be no possibility of leaving his farm to his children for any period beyond the unexpired term of his lease. What probability is there of any holder of a 999 year*' lease exchanging that tenure for the new form of lease ? As far as present holders of lease-in-perpetuity are concerned they will be permitted, after surrendering their leases, to purchase at public auction the freehold of their farms, burdened with valuation for improvements. Verily, when they ask for bread they are given a stone.