LABOUR AND THE LAND QUESTION.

Otago Daily Times, 27 April 1906, Page 3 (Supplement)

LABOUR AND THE LAND QUESTION.

CITRISTCHURCI-J. April 17. At (ha Trades and Labour Conference today, Mr \V. IT. Hampton (Wellington) mover] —"That the conference approves of tho abolition of tho sale of Crown lands and provision for the periodical revaluation of all Crown lands held on leaso at tho death of the present lessees, or tho transfer of the leaso to another party, whichever sliall occur lirst; the resumption ol 1 laud for closer settlement to bo at the) owner's valuation for taxation purposes, plus 10 per cent.; tenants to have an absolute right lo their improvements." Ho thought they were all agreed on the question of tho leasehold, and that the leaso in perpetuity was almost as bad as an unqualified freehold. Tho only way in which they could avoid tho evils which 1 were arising out of this system of tenure was to provido for revaluation. The question of a contract between tho Crown and tho original lessees could, he thought, bo dealt with by preserving inviolato the rights of the individual lessees, as long as- they had a personal interest in their leases.

Mr V. Pals (Nelson) seconded tho motion.

Mr Paul moved as an amendment— " That the words ' held on lease at tho death of tho present lessee, or the transfer of the lease to another party' bo deleted, and that a provision bo inserted providing simply for revaluation in futuro leases." He considered the proposal to interferewith oxisting contracts was immoral and unjust, and that they were really attacking Iho leasehold system. Tho proposal threatened lo conhscato rights which were as sacred as tho rights possessed by freeholders, and if it wcro carried into effect it would strike a blow at tho foundations of society. Ho thought the right way lo approach tho question was to wipo out the leaso in perpetuity and restore the perpetual lease.

Mr R. Brcen (Otago) seconded the amendment, and contended that they were to some extent fo blame for tho lease in perpetuity themselves, If they had had a. Labour party it would never have come about. This was tho result of their becoming tangled up with the Liberal party.

After further discussion tho amendment was put aitid lost.

Mr Hreon then moved, as a further amendment—"That tho words 'at, th« death of the present. lessee' bo deleted, and that tho following be substituted:—'For a poriod of SO years from tho dato of the lease.'" Ho pointed out that, if revaluation only takes placo at tho cleath'of the lessee, tho provision might operate- unfairly when one lessee, died young and another lived io an old age.

Mr Westbrook seconded tho amendmont, which was carried by 9 votes to 7.

April 18. At tho meeting of this Political Labour League 1 o-day, Mr Paul (Dunodin) moved—"That all reference lo retrospective, revaluation of Crown leaseholds without compensation be deleted from the league's platform." The motion was lost by 9 votes to 11. Mr Paul moved that the words "subject to fair compensation being allowed for any variation of lea*" be added to the clause. Tho motion was carried, It waa also resolved (hat there should bo no further leasca of land under the leasc-in-perpetuity system, and no future lcaso should bo for a longer term than 40 years, tenants to receive valuation for their improvements.