Land Act Ensures That State Won't Take Land

Northern Advocate, 28 October 1949, Page 3

Land Act Ensures That State Won't Take Land

ROSS CLAIMS

“WHO is going to get up and complain if there is a farm to spare and it goes to a returned serviceman?” asked the Government candidate for Marsden, Mr U. L. Ross, when addressing 14 people at the Kara Hall yesterday afternoon. “If it were not for our servicemen our women would be in Japanese brothels,” he declared. Mr Felix Leca was in the chair.

“We are not taking farms from people who are using them and developing them, unless there is a spare one—and then it is taken only to settle a returned serviceman.” Mr Ross went on.

"The state is not going to disinherit a man—it doesn't add up, it doesn t make sense.

“By the Land Act, 1948. every Crown tenant has the right to buy the freehold.

“This blows out the idea that the stante wants to take farms. “Socialistic textbooks, written in Europe, give the wrong impression. “That's why we all came to New Zealand in the first place—to gain freedom of tenure.

ments of the Labour Government as being the rehabilitation of farmers and workers, the Social Security Act, the taking over of the Reserve Bank and the Bank of New Zealand, the marketing of primary produce, arid the guaranteed price. Regarding the taking over of the banks, he said that those who controlled the nation's credit directed the policy of Governments, and had control of the people.

"The Labour Government had the courage to take over the banks,” Mr Ross said.

••We must learn that the man who owns the land and the man who works it and develops it should be one and the same person.

"That is the principle of the Labour Government and that's why a man can buy the freehold from the Crown,” Mr Ross went on.

By the state developing electricpower resources in New Zealand it prevented a middleman getting a rakeoff. he continued. It was a great example of Socialism, a word many people were afraid of because they did not understand it. Mr Ross said these things cost money but money must be spent to build up New Zealand.

He said the scheme of allowing Crown tenants to purchase the freehold was so popular that the department could not handle the number of applications received. "You can't get past the Land Act, 1948." he added. "The question of the land is the main problem today," Mr Ross continued.

Money from taxation was spent in paying off overseas debts, and in providing what the people needed at home.

Mr Ross was asked what plans he or the Government had to compensate the farmer suddenly faced with increased costs, and he answered that the Government would utilise the stabilisation pool, the matter being one of economic adjustment.

"It is the source of all our wealth. ••It is the source of our food, shelter and clothing the fundamentals of man's physical welfare.

••To say that the state wants to take over the land is false." Mr floss listed the main achievc-

• The farmer would still get his guaranteed price to take care of his costs. He could see prices coining down in England without any change of Government. said another man. to which Mr Ross replied that subsidies would always remain for vital commodities. A vote of thanks to Mr Ross was carried by acclamation.