THE FREEHOLD WEDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14219, 16 November 1909, Page 5

THE FREEHOLD WEDGE.

DISCONTENTED LEASEHOLDERS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

, Wellington, Monday. The leaseholders on the Government side of the House have taken no pains to conceal their dissatisfaction with the Government's land proposals, and some of those holding the most extreme views have, it is stated, gone so far as to threaten to absent themselves from the caucus of the Government party which. is to be held to-morrow. Whilst the value of the proposals from the freeholders' point of view is only a modified one, the very important fact remains that the principle of the • freehold is conceded, and this is, of course, gall and wormwood to ardent leaseholders. Mr. Laurenson, the Government Whip, is one of these, and it will be very interesting to observe the attitude he will assume in regard to the freehold programme. The freehold members, especially those in the Government party, wear a very satisfied look when spoken to on the subject. The Government's new policy appears to them as a means of protection from being placed in any unpleasant position in regard to their election pledges, and, moreover, they regard the concessions made in the direction of their principles as a probable forerunner of greater i freehold triumphs. "We have got the wedge in," as one of these members expressed it, and we intend to push it as. hard as. we can/' The leaseholders, of course, also recognise what is likely to happen in this respect. • Hence those tears. : • > ;■- • • -