LAND AGGREGATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6219, 27 May 1907, Page 4

LAND AGGREGATION

W« are glad to see that so much attention has been attracted by the statistics with which Mr MoNab disclosed tho extent to which land-aggregation is proceeding in Now Zealand. If we are to judge by the anxiety with which the opponents of tho Government’s land policy aro seeking to discount tho significance of the Minister’s figures, wo must conclude that Mr MeNab has' made a shrewd hit. Tho other day wo wore at some pains to show that tho increase in tho number of largo estates cannot bo explained by the advance of land values, but as a correspondent, whoso letter wo print to-day, challenges Mr McNab’s conclusions, w© must return to tho subject afresh. Our correspondent, who writes from Marton, assures us that, so far from there being any process of land-aggregation in the West Coast district, the large areas with which ho has boon acquainted have nearly all been cut up and sold. Assuming what our correspondent says to bo correct for that particular district, what has happened in one district need not happen in another. Mr Hogg,, as wo reported on Friday last, spoko very convincingly of what is going on in the Wairarapa and Bush districts. Wo need not repeat the details of Mr Hogg’s testimony to the operation of tho monopolist and tho land-aggregator, testimony which he is prepared fully to verify with specific names and numbers. It is quite sufficient to realise what is meant by his story of rural depopulation —empty cottages as numerous as mushrooms, diminishing attendances at country schools, a general drift towards the towns. Mr Hogg very properly admits the operation of certain new forces in bringing about t-his result—improved educational facilities, increased and varied opportunities for urban employment, and the superior attractions of a city environment. Making every allowance for these forces, tho fact remains that there is still a large population anxious to occupy the land, but unable to find land to occupy. The horde of applicants who rush to tho ballot whenever a rural holding is offered for selection is one of the curiosities of the country. Our correspondent may rest assured that -whatever may be happening in the West Coast district land-aggrega-tion- is going on very merrily next door. He may also make up his mind that no amount of appeal to “increased valuation” can explain away Mr MoXab’s figures. Wo quote them again— Estates of Number Number Value. 1 in IDO2. in 1906. 5000 to 9.999 1285 2080 10.000 to 19,939 533 894 20.000 to 49,999 24,4 370 50.000 to 99,999 60 85 100.000 to 199,939 21 22 200.000 and over 2 4 The increase in die number of ©states valued at over £IO,OOO is 615, and if that increase is entirely due to increase! valuation it means that of the 1285 estates valued at from £SOOO to £9999 in 1902, no fewer than 516, or nearly half, were raised above the £IO,OOO level by increased valuation. Upon the face of it, it is evident that no such thing took place. Increased valuation can- only ’ mitigate the figures. But, even if one mad© the impossible concession that the groat increase in the number of large holdings is entirely due to increased valuation, tho Opposition would he as hopelessly unable as ever to establish its contention that tho graduated land tax is not only preventing further aggregation, hut actually bursting up estates.