LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19513, 17 December 1926, Page 12

LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS

Plenty of interest in the land settlement problem lay nascent in the country until recent events stirred it to life. This has been shown several times since the conference was held in Auckland. Another manifestation has come from Gisborne, where the Chamber .of Commerce has devised a». policy and collected facts in its support. Compulsory acquisition of estates for subdivision under the Land for Settlements Act is the keynote of it. The statement drawn up is very appropriate for consideration by the proposed committee of inquiry when its work begins. To that .extent the chamber has done well in breaking ground as it has done. Allowing so much, it is necessary, nevertheless, to suggest reservations if the Gisborne policy is advanced as a complete solution. It is admitted that values are unstable, a serious flaw to any scheme of purchase on a large scale. The chamber proposes a general revaluation of the country, after which, in its view, the compulsory clauses of the Act could safely be enforced. In compulsory acquisition the figure on the valuation roll is made the basis for assessing the unimproved value as part of the price. It is therefore a factor of much importance. With the preliminary admission that values are unstable it is surely dangerous to suggest that a general revaluation would fix them sufficiently to make the roll a safe guide for assessing prices, Yet this is in effect what the chamber proposes. The fact is they are in a state of flux, and no matter what is done purchase of estates by the Government .under any legal machinery must be ap-

proaehed very cautiously until a readjustment more far-reaching than the mere revision of recorded values has occurred. For the same reason, the present uncertainty about land now in occupation, the citation of results in the past cannot be unreservedly accepted as proof thafc purchase and subdivision under the Act would be equally succesisful now. Conditions when the estates were taken over must be compared very closely with those ruling today -be fore safe conclusions can be drawn If, therefore, the Gisborne policy is not capable of unreserved accepts ance, that does not destroy its value It is well worth examination for itself, and in addition is welcome as a proof of quickened interest in the whole question.