THE OPTIONAL TENURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14835, 11 November 1911, Page 6

THE OPTIONAL TENURE.

It should be recognised by those who offer themselves for Parliamentary seats with the earnest determination to serve the' public interest that it is their duty not to confuse the public mind upon grave questions oil national policy. Sir John Findlay would be among the first to agree with this view of public duty, although in the heat of argument he may allow his judgment to be swayed by the desire to make "points." An example of misleading argument is to be found, in his making useagainst freeholding—of the very businesslike disinclination of settlers, who have taken up Crown Lands with the option of purchase, to complete their option until they have fully improved their holdings. That of 11,000 small farmers who have taken up land with right of purchase only 2000 have yet taken advantage of the purchasing clause in their leases is in no way whatever a proof of preference for leasehold. The fact is that whenever land is opened on optional conditions " right of purchase" is almost universally chosen, although it costs an additional one per cent, upon the original value as compared to perpetual leasing. Nobody knows better than Sir John Findlay that when agricultural leaseholding was first adopted in New. Zealand and vigorously advocated by its champions as " just as good as freehold" a full half of the settlers on Crown Lands accepted the "just as good" theory and chose the lease-in-perpe-tuity. They, saved one per cent, thereby, a very considerable inducement. But what happened? As the realities of lease-holding became understood by our settlers they very speedily perceived that it was much better to pay one per cent, extra in rent for a period, and to obtain thereby a right of purchase to be asserted when they were able to pay off the capital value conveniently. " Optional tenure" rapidly became the equivalent of "right of purchase;" the alternative form of leaseholding ceased to be a practical element in land settlement before the issue . of 999-years' leases was abolished. Freeholders have always agreed that the capital of the struggling settler is best employed in developing his holding, and that the welfare of both settler and public demands that he should not be asked to pay the capital value until he can be reasonably expected to do so. The 9000, holders of "right of purchase," who have not yet exercised 1 their option, are. paying year by year for the privilege of. holding the option; and it is exceedingly doubt- j ful if among the entire 9000 there

could be found nine who would surrender it for a rebate of the one per cent., or 90 whose leaseholds will not become freehold in due time. This state of affairs is not such as might be gathered from the argument of Sir John Findlay, but it is the exact state of affairs, as the AttorneyGeneral should know.