THE LAND BILL CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13390, 19 January 1907, Page 6

THE LAND BILL CAMPAIGN.

REPLY TO MR. M, NAB. BLOTTING OUT THE FREEHOLD. [BY TKI.F.GK IPH.-OWX fOBKESPON-DKNT.] <.'lii'.iMi hcrch, Friday. Hi m in.; with Mr. McNab's speech on the I- ml Bill Mr. C. Lewis, M.fl.i;.. in the coarse of an interview accorded to a Press representative, said:—"Putting on one side the details, technicalities, and what I regard as mere flummery, Mr. McXab ignored what to me is the most important, in fact the only, feature of the Bill. This Parliament, let the next do what it may, can never consent -while ten men can stand upon their legs to the flagrant, deliberate, and unblushing breach | of faith contained it. the only clause 1 am I «piK-erno. with, the- clause which blots the word ■ freehold' out. of the puhlj,. I dictionary. , i here »* is, plain and „ n . | deniable. ,I he electors were asked to con-ln-ni a principle which this Bill brazenh j vtoates. and 1 for one say ie electors I shall be consulted before that is don-. I In- discussion upon the report of tilLand Commission took place immediately I before the general election?, and members. I anil particularly Ministers, went to the j country upon the polii then enunciated. I the maintenance of the'optional system in I connection with Clown lands. If'there i-• I iuiv meaning in words the country >■,-■ j ask.-d to support Wiis svstem. No 'sooner ] 'iocs tin:. Ministry take office than cn-h ! of tueso. i hue systems is to be desiroved. j Is this reasonably honest? If cleet'ioti. [ nave any significance the countrv supporti -'.I th- optional system, and it 'is for the ! country, and not for ,i Parliament .-• I elected, jo reverse that verdict. This- Par. ! li-inieiii will not do so ; it. is too serioiiK jan issue. It is all very well to say it i- ; only : ' natter of sentiment. Sentiment is ; : <>! a thing to be sneered ,i: ; it is just i tuts very freehold sentiment that has [ pu.sind Englishmen into eve it known ! : ;,i '; ,; ' "' the -lobe, that colonised New ; Zet'.itid. and bought our fathers lure, in- ' eluding. I doubt, not, Mr. McNah's. I; is ; "°' :i thing to !;,« discouraged. The- theory j thai we ..on 1 want to injur. any man.'' ! concluded Mr. bonis, "is not insisted upon i nowadays. Men have been deprived of 1 land for less than the canitalised value of j what they were making from it. and you ! have, the dictum of the Chief' Justice that I the pike to be given is to be detetniincd j by what a tenant can pay, rather than by what an owner is making. All li:m rej presents a tendency which has Ineu quicki ly acquiesced in by many who regard tin m- ! selves as outside the dango zone. The area of that /.one is increasing rapidly, -i"'i th:.- Bill adds very largely to its client."