THE LAND QUESTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13862, 27 March 1907, Page 5

THE LAND QUESTION.

STATEMENT BY THE BRITISH PRIME .MINISTER.

"INDISPENSABLE REFORMS."

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, Maich 26. (Received March 26, at 11.54 p.m.)

Sir Henry Campbcll-ltairncrmaii, in a letter to Mr 11. Walter, a, member of tlio House of Commons, stated that the Government would do its utmost to press forward legislation dealing with small holdings and rmal bousing, two indispensable refoims; also the Scottish Land Hill, which ought to have :i farrcaching effect in checking the exodus from the land; but it was almost, too much to expect that tho land system of England, Scotland, and Wales could bo reformed hi a single, session. Moieovei, thero were indications of it stsvero stntgglo over these questions in both nouses,

Tho ropoit of Iho Select Committer) on the Lajid Values Taxation, ote. (Scotland) Bill, i-sucd in January last, t-tatcs that tho committed has oousidored tho bill and has agreed to report tho samo without amciximent. After dealing with the prosr.nt system of land valuation in Scotland, and the working of tlu unimproved value system in tho colonies, tho committee summarise ilfl eniichisions as follows:—B, considers that, Iho now standard of lating bused upoai tho yearly lalue of land, apart from tho build> ings and improwmonls upon it, h sound, anil would proie advantageous; thai to set it up by ostimalim; tho value of land apart, fiom buildings is practicable; th?,t ill nuking tho valuation regard must bo had to all restrictions validly imposed oit the. land, itnl to recent expenditure in preparing it for use; that exemptions such as ,iro pro)io;c<l in clause 6 of tho bill are- proper, but to tliKe exemptions ought to be added luilwcys, canals, docks, piors, ami harbours; IhU so far ns bolh occupiers and owiioj* ara iKii'corned tho new standard of rating should lw sulistitutod for tho present sta--idard; anl that within tho category of owners outfit to l>o included owners of feu duties wlcnsoever created. The oommittco tlioio fo o recommend that the bill lcforrod to I.ho eommitteo bo not further proceeded with and that a measure bo introduced ma'dnp provision for a, valuation being made of land in tho l»roii(rhs and counties of Scotloud, apart from tho buildings and improvomentj upon it, and that no assessments bo determined upon until tho amount of tho valuation is known and considered.