LABOUR'S LAND POLICY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19149, 15 October 1925, Page 13

LABOUR'S LAND POLICY.

EFFECT IN OPERATION. NO MORE STATE ADVANCES. SIR JAMES PARR'S ANALYSIS. The different voices with which candidates of (he Labour Party speak on its land policy and its effect in operation were Sir James Parr's main themes in ! addressing a large meeting at Avondale last evening. The Mayor, Kr. W. J. I Tait, presided. The candidate was corJ diallv received. I In opening the subject .Sir James said | the truth was that, the people. were now brought face to face with the prospect of land nationalism, which was the principal plank in the Labour Party's programme. At Henderson his opponent, Mr. 11. (i. .1!. Mason, had said that the usehold policy was to apply only to large faims and to all land which was subject to advances from the State, whereas Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., had declared that the new policy would affect all future State advances. Which was correct ? If Mr. Mason's interpretation were correct, then every one of the 33.000 workers and soldiers who had got Government loans for houses would be affected. If, 011 the other hand, Mr. Savage's interpretation were correct, then none of the 276 applicants in Eden for Government loans which were not yet granted would ever get their advances on the present terms. In plain language, if was bad enough either way. One thing was quite clear, namely that no more advances to workers on their freehold sections would be granted by either Mr. Savage or Mr. Mason if they had their way. Even with their latest interpretation of their land programme it meant that, no worker could get a Government loan on the old terms. That would be abolished. In the future, according to Mr. Savage, and Mr. Mason, any worker desiring a Government loan would not be allowed to sell his land except to the State and then only at a valuation made by a Government valuer subject to an appeal to an assessment court. Further, if there were to be no future advances to workers on their freeholds on the old terms at 4J, per cent, then, as Mr. Savage's interpretation seemed to indicate, there would be no need for the advances to settlers office at all because this department would not be able, according to the Labour policy, to lend any more money on the freehold security of the worker. A Voice: We can't get advances now. Sir James: Well, Avondale has had its fair share, for during the last 18 months no less than 53 houses were built in Avondale by means of Government loans at a total cost of £34,000. In the Eden electorate no less than 307 houses were erected of a total value of £211,000. Very few question were asked and on the motion of Mr. G. Desmond a vote of thanks and confidence was carried by a large majority. LABOUR AND EMPIRE. SPEECH BY MR. MASON. " LEAVE MR. MASSEY ALONE." The Labour candidate for Eden, Mr. IT. G. R. Mason, addressed a well-attended meeting at Kosie Theatre, Mount Albert, last eveniug. Mr. J. Poole presided. Mr. Mason spoke on the lines of his i opening speech at Henderson. He was j confident that Labour was going to cap- j tare the Eden seat at the forthcoming j poll, claiming that the Government j majority had been reduced to only 600 at last election. The Government candi- ; dates, he said, were busy finding fault with the policy of Labour, but failed to place a definite policy of their own before the electors. Referring to pensions he said the Reform Party claimed credit for any improvements in this direction, whereas, as a matter of fact, it was Mr. W. E. Parry, as member for City Central, who was responsible for that. However, the w'nolo matter of pensions wanted overhauling. Dealing with the Reform Party's aims, Mr. Mason spoke frequently of the late Mr. Massey's policy. A Voice: Leave Mr. Massey alone. He is dead. With some warmth Mr. Mason retorted that, although Mr. Coates spoke of his manifesto, it was virtually Mr. Massey's manifesto. Mr. Mason took exception to the reported remarks of Miss Melville regarding Labour and the Empire. " The Empire is quite safe without our continually lauding it," he said. Asked if the Labour Party was in favour of repealing the compulsory clauses of the Defence Act Mr. Mason said it was. Mr. M. J. Savage also addressed the meeting. The candidate was accorded a unanimous vote of confidence, and both speakers were thanked.