The Marlborough Express. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1906. THE LAND BILL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 222, 5 October 1906, Page 2

The Marlborough Express. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1906. THE LAND BILL.

The cat is out of the bag. The idea that the holder of a lease-in-perpetuity should have the option of paying off 90 per cent of the original value, which .«ri>» i-'irown out as a mere suggestion by the Lyttelton . Times, now forms part of Mr McNab's Bill as it has emerged from the Land Committee! There are several other alterations in the measure, set out in detail in another part of this issue, including the substitution of a £15,000 limit instead of 1000 acres; but publio attention will fasten upon the Minister's bold offer of a compromise. It will, we think, create a sensation only inferior in degree to that produced by the Bill itself. Its object is as plain as possible: it is an attempt to "dish" the freeholders. It will not satisfy them, that is certain, and' for at least two reasons. The amendment does not concede the freehold; it still leaves the tenant subject to the restriction of residence. That is one reason. The other is that it will create a new order of landholders, enjoying all the " material" 'advantages of freehold, but exempt from the liability te taxation. We do not know whether provision. has been made to meet this last objection, nor, of course, are we aware of the arguments that induced the Committee to make the amendment and recommend the Bill as amended'; Possibly the opposition we "indicate has been anticipated and provided against. But, on the face of it, we are inclined to think that the new provision will not find favour with the present holders of the 999 years leases any more than it will with the out-and-out freeholders, who, wie are' convinced, will oppose it to the bitter end. And how will the situation be regarded by the leasehold party? From time to time it has been reported that there have been stormy debates, in Committee, and the present indications are that resistance was manifested chiefly on the leaseholders' side. A perusal of the abstract of the Bill printed elsewhere will show that wherever a change, has been made or shadowed it has be.en in the direction of placating the increasing demand for the privileges of the freehold. It will be observed that any Native lands that may be acquired by the Crown are to be disposed of under the " optional " system; that is to say r the tenant may convert into freehold, with the alternative of the 66 years renewable lease. "Compromise" is so prominent everywhere that one is inclined to say that it overshadows rather than animates the Bill. It is, however, extremely difficult to form a definite opinion that will satisfy the reason, there is so much that seems to require elucidation. The true significance of many points will probably not be made apparent until the debate has, well advanced, and by that time, if the Government force the measure through, expressions of outside opinion will come too late to have any eftect. The latest developments only serve to confirm the need, that we have all along felt, for postponing the final stages of the Bill until the country has had ample leisure to study it. ~.