THE LAND COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12818, 18 March 1905, Page 5

THE LAND COMMISSION.

V;v -y:\ EVIDENCE AT RANFURLY. "'; land. Rationalisers-to-the •-; v : „,. . .. ■ FORE ! •*■■- '"'<'[Br 'rELEGKAi'ir.-—own connksroyriiafT.] . •- •• • *Nask«Yj Friday. ." Thb members of the Land Commission drove from Nn.seby to Ranfurly this morn- j ing, and held a meeting in the schoolhouse. | John Forrester, farmer, said that settlers in that district were in the happy position of having no grievance. He t was quite satisfied with the lease in perpetuity as long is things remained as they were. The Chairman: Do you think the lease might be altered? Witness: I have seen some statements ! about revaluation. . . <

Th? Chairman: I think that is a matter vou need not trouble yourself about. That, is mr impression. You have entered into a contract with tho Government, and they with von. and it requires both panic.? to agree to the breaking of it before it can be broken.

Witness said he would certainly not agree to, the breaking of it. He was satisfied with the constitution of the land boards. ]f there was to be any change in laud tenure he thought the old deferred payment "system was the best.

Mr. M< Cut "he on : Do you think that your lease might be interfered with?

Witness: I have seen it slated in the papers over and over again that the labour unions in Duuedin want to get periodical revaluations.

Are they advocating that revaluation should have retrospective effects? That I do not know. If they do not it h all right.

By taking the rebate' in rent in good times are you not giving the labour organisations good ground tor their advocacy of revaluation? Is it not an interference with terms of vour lease?

I cannot see it in that light at all.

Patrick l Bleach, farmer, said he had held his freehold since 1880, and four years ago he got his- leased land. It was poor ground, and six or seven miles from his home.- Every year he got notice from the Land Board to show cause why he did not reside on it. Ho thought that under the circumstances ho ought not to be called on to reside on the leasehold.

The Chairman: I think myself the Jaw requires amendment iu that respect. Witness: The Government should own all the land in the colony. There should be no freehold at all. In years to come the population of New Zealand would be large, and where were people to get land from if it was all sold now? He thought the young people in the district were not marrying in such numbers as they did at one time. A clerTman said recently that he was forgetting how to marry people. (Laughter). Mr. McCutcheon: I think that is a condition of affairs that npp'.ie3 only to this district.

John Law, jun., said previous to taking up land of his own,he had tried his fortune at the ballot, but. was'one of the unfortunates. He was never able to get a piece of land. There were always a number of unfortunates in the district, for the reason that there was never sufficient land put inthe market. The ballot, he thought, was the best plan to give people a fair and equal opportunity .to. get on the land, but there were evils attending it, because people who wished to get. land did not always get it. The wav to minimise the evil was to keep plenty of land in the'market. Mr" Paul: Do you think that the leasebold policy should be continued? Witness: I believe in the State ownership of the soil. Has your freehold increased in value .- Apart from your exertion The fact that the railway has come along has increased the value. - Do you think that the unearned increment should be long to the State? No; not mine: (Laughter.) I belief in it as* a principle, however. To Mr".' McCardle: The 999 years lease 'ought to be revalued when barf times came, and a man wanted'a lower rent. (Laughter.) ~ ~ ~ Patrick MeCluskey, farmer, said if the Government permitted freeholds to everyone there was no power in New Zealand to keep the capitalists from aggregating estates Aggregation was going on. in the district. He. Opposed the option of. the freehold being given to Crown .tenants. . James Scott, farmer, ./said he had no fault to, find with the land, boards. He did not approve of elected land boards, and objected to/more discretionary power being given to the boards.

lii reply to Mr. McCardle, the witness said ho considered that land boards were a superfluity.

\Ym. Dowling, farmer, said he thought that there should be no freehold at all. It should be all leasehold.

John Law, sen., fanner, said the man holding a. leasehold would, he believed, take as much care of his land as the man with a freehold.

) Subsequently,' a meeting was held at Naseby, when further evidence was given.

To-morrow the Commission proceeds to Waipiata to hear evidence, and reaches Duiiedia in the evening.