THE PREMIER AND SIR GEORGE GREY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8881, 18 May 1892, Page 5

THE PREMIER AND SIR GEORGE GREY.

AN INTERVIEW. THE TAX ON IMPROVEMENTS. SIR GEORGE'S ATTITUDE. LAND SETTLEMENT. A Herald representative asked Sir George Grey yesterday what he thought of the Premier's remarks published in yesterday's issue, in a telegram from Wellington, concerning him and his attitude regarding the tax on improvements. " All I have to say," was his answer, " is that I cannot make out what Mr. Ballance means. Ido not understand what he has said. I really do not understand how people who dislike a tax on improvements, as he says the Government do, should impose such a tax." "The Government say that ibis necessary," said the interviewer, " because there must be no risks in regard to the finance." "But why not have some other tax?" replied Sir George Grey; "or, why not have the system adjusted so that the taxation of improvements would be avoided?" " What other tax do you propose ?" " Well, you see, that is a large question ; and 1 would have to take time to consider the matter fully and make the various computations which would be necessary. Being out of oftice, and really out of party altogether, I would not like to make any proposal without thinking the matter out." " The Premier says that he heard a rumour to the effect that those opposed to the Government policy hoped to get your assistance to strike out the tax on improvements."' "Everybody must have known that I would do that—that I would go in for getting that tax struck out." " Have the Opposition applied to you for assistance in that direction ?" " No." "Then are wo to understand that if a proposal to strike out the tax is brought forward next session, you will support it?" "As to that, I cannot bind myself in any way. It is impossible to tell what may turn up next session, and 1 would not like to define any course now, or fetter myself as to what 1 will do. I think it much better that I should have a perfectly free hand to do what I think right. As I have said, it is impossible to tell what may happen next session."

" The Premier docs not appear to have replied to many of the arguments you advanced in your last statement upon this subject." "Of course," was Sir George's reply, "I do not wish to quarrel with Mr. Ballance about the matter."'

Mention having been made of land settlement, and the statements frequently made that there is a great demand for land, Sir George Grey said that many people who spoke in that way forgot that there was a large amount of scrip floating about. " Numbers of pensioners and officers entitled to land," he said, " take it up without any intention of occupying it or settling upon it, because they have not the means to do so. A large area of some of the best land may be taken up in this way ; or the scrip may be sold at very low rates, as we have seen. That is not proper settlement. Then other people, seeing their neighbours taking up land, and hearing that there'is a demand, may be induced to apply also." " May not legitimate settlement) be encouraged in that way ?" "Yes, if those people select the land with the firm intention to occupy it and cultivate it; but not if they are simply actuated by a momentary craze, which, when it passes away, will leave bad results. Land is being taken up in that way now. Take many of the village settlements whers land has been occupied, and you will find that they are now almost deserted."