TOWARDS THE FREEHOLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13798, 10 July 1908, Page 5

TOWARDS THE FREEHOLD.

A BUDGET CONCESSION. LAND BILL AMENDMENT. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington*, Thursday. • The freeholders are indulging in a little jubilation over the special land settlement scheme foreshadowed in the Budget, which is a great concession to the freeholders. The Leader of the Opposition has pointed out that this proposal was foreshadowed last session by an amendment to the Land Bill, proposed by Mr. Malcolm, member for Clutha, which ran as follows:—"Not-' withstanding anything to the contrary in. this or any other Act, the Governor, on! the recommendation of the Land Purchase Board, may, out of the moneys that may hereafter from time to time be appropriated by Parliament for the purpose, acquire lands for the purpose of closer set-, tlement, such lands to be disposed of by auction or tender for cash, the cash received to be paid into "a fund) to be useH : for the further purchase and disposal of lands under the above conditions, provided ■ always that the lands acquired under the authority given in this section shall be disposed of in areas not exceeding 640 acres, and that lands acquired under this clause shall not be taken compulsorily."

In introducing his amendment, Mr. Malcolm supported it in terms very similar to those used by the Prime Minister in introducing his proposal. It will be noted, however, that whereas Mr. Malcolm proposed that the lands should be immediately paid for, the Government proposes to give the settlers 32£ years in which to pay for them, thus reviving that popular form of tenure, the deferred payment system, introduced by the Hon. W. Rolleston.

On the other hand, the Government's proposal misses the advantage of the immediate return of expenditure it would have secured under Mi'. Malcolm's clause, which was defeated by 58 votes to 18, those voting for it being Messrs. J. Allen, Barclay, Field, Flatman, W. Fraser, Hardy, Homes, Jennings, Lang, Major, Mander, Massey, Reid, Boss, Thomson, Wilford, Okey, and Malcolm. Though the Government's proposal this year is so similar, it is safe to Bay it will meet with a more favourable reception.

Mr. Laurenson, a prominent leasehold member, when extolling the good points of the Budget, was asked what he thought of the provision referred to. " A very good one," he replied. On being reminded of the recognition that it gave to the principle of the freehold, he replied, "Weil, I would rather see the land settled under Crown leasehold, but I prefer a number of small freeholds tc one large freehold."