Land Values and the Government.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8145, 20 November 1905, Page 7

Land Values and the Government.

At Mr Seddon's meeting at Auckland, according to the N.Z. Herald's report, " speaking of land values he said that the capital value of the colony's lands had increased by some £75,000,000 during the present Government's term of office. A lady Elector: "Borrowed money." Mr Seddon said he was glad to receive a lead, and believed he could convert this lady in a moment. The land values as he had said, had increased by 75 millions. The Lady: "Did you or did the far- ' mers increase the value'?" j Mr Seddonn, speaking of the public debt, said it had been increased by 22 millions during the Government's term of office. \ A Voice: "It is a terrible increase." Mr Seddon said that whilst the public debt had increased by 22 millions the value of the laud had increased by 75 millions, and thus there was a,- balance to the good of over fifty .millions." A contemporary wants Mr Seddon to explain who created the additional value of over 50 millions? Was this created by the tongues and jaws of Ministers and members, by their drawing o£ large salaries, creating expensive new departments, <and piling taxation, on the people ; or by the industry, enterprise and money of the -producers ? If the latter, what has Government done in the matter except, indeed, to handicap the wealth creators ?