THE LAND QUESTION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8736, 19 May 1914, Page 4

THE LAND QUESTION

The assertion by Mr Massey that the graduated land tax forced 37,000 acres of Hawke’s Bay lands out of the grip of tho monopolists last year (although that is not exactly how the Prime Minister put it) has attracted a good deal of attention. That is good. It is in the best interests of the country that tho various aspects of tho land question shout) bo widely discussed. The subject i . nno of really first-class importance—in our view, it is the fundamental question that ought to divide tho great parties at tho coming election. Holding this view, we gladly reprint what tho Auckland “Star” thinks about the Prime Minister’s boast of subdivision in Hawke's Bay:— “Mr Massey, in the course of a speech at Gisborne, assumed credit for the private subdivision of 37,500 acres of large holdings in tho Hawke’s Bay district during the twelve months ending March 31st last. In view of the steady stream of evidence of tho increasing broad acres of the landed class of this district, it is pleasing to find that in some directions there is a movement to permit the small man access to the soil and the means of a livelihood. The Prime Minister attributed the Hawke’s Bay figures to the action of the graduated land tax, which the Liberal party introduced years ago and the “Reform” Government amended last session. Examining with some attention the present statute, we find that even in cases of holdings of over thirty thousand pounds’ value, in addition to five-eighths of a penny, the graduation is on a scale of three one-hundred-thonsandths of a penny on each pound in excess of 'the thirty thousand, so that the man with even £IOO,OOO value in Hawke’s Bay need not greatly fear “Reform’s” efforts to tax him, hut can reserve his anathemas for the Liberal policy that introduced the principle of such legislation. But what we wish to point out to the present holder of the portfolio of Lands is that in his elation at giving publicity to these figures, he is surely cutting a rod for his own back. There is, as he rightly points every reason for satisfaction at the fact that 37,500 acres that provided pasturage for some thousands of sheep are now occupied by 366 small farmers, in average holdings of 111 acres. This is just the sort of land that is to be, found over great areas of Hawke’s Bay, and it is a very pertinent question why Government has not done something to promote settlement- by tho direct acquisition of some of the estates of the land kings. Mr Massey states that tho present Act for compulsory purchase ie so defective as to he useless. Then let it he put on tho statute book afresh in effective form, and may some of its first results bo achieved in Hawke’s Bay, where the subdivision by private owners has afforded an object lesson to any Government how best to get tho small settler on the land.”