THE LAND QUESTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13888, 27 April 1907, Page 6

THE LAND QUESTION.

MEETING AT OTAUTAU.

SPEECH BY ME. T. MACKENZIE, M.H.K,

(Feoji Ocr ow>: Correspondent.)

_ OTAUTAU, April 26. Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R., in response tothe invitation of tho Southland Executive of the Fanners' Union, addressed a mooting of about 150 persons, including a sprinkling of ladies, in the Town Hall this evening. The chair was occupied by Mr N. A. M'Laren (secretary of the focal branch o£ the Farmers' Union, and member ot tho Southland Executive). Messrs J. C. Thomson (member for the district). John M'Queon (president of the Southland Executive), and 11. Hirst, (chainnaß of tho Wallaca County Council, and an ox-inomber for the district) occupied seats on the platform.

Mr Mackenzie met with a very cordial reception, and delivered a vigorous address, in the course of which ho referred to tho lands for settlement policy. Ho paicl ho could not refrain from expressioc his anxiety for th'o future prospects, under prosstmt administration, of that act. He considered that the recent expressions of • the Minister or Lands, together with those of the Attorney-general, were subjects' foe (Treat anxiety. The Minister of Lands was sivinj; away the body of the act, and tho Attorney-general its soul. At. Tuapeka Mouth the former declared that he did nob believe in the compulsory clauses being en- , forced. In the north lie declared that the' llovernment, could not give within 10s an acre, or 12 per ce.nt. what private people could 1 for land. The latter stated that they could not get land at. its fair value in court, and fchal they were confronted with almost insurmountable difficulties in obtaining land for sett lenient. Might-he (Mr Mackenzie) at this point. a:<k what- 'estates taken through t.lie Compensation Court had not produced ' interest, on outlay. Iti connection with tho loss of Olydcvale, he could not express his feelings too strongly at the vasilating neglect of tile Government in allowing that estate to fali into tho hands of other people. If any estate in JJew Zealand was fitted for settlement, Clydevalo was that otic. It was . subdivided and woll roaded, and over one hundred families could have beou placed thereon in ."comfort. Tho first offer the Government made was £4 per aerc, which he beliovod wasritjftcrwards increased by ss. At the same'time they offered £5 10s 6d for Clifton, tho adjacent property, which the owner did not, want, to sell, whereas the owners of Clydevale wished to dispose of ■ their estate, and were only offered the lessor price. Tbc singular tiling about tho transaction was that some members of the purchasing syndicate were made aware that tho Government was absolutely "off" Clydevalo, and they, like wis© men, stopped in and secured tho property. Who told them the Government was "off," and why was the tiovornmont "off"?' Wo know that tho syndicate's objcct was to dispose of it as soon as possible. All this is perfectly legitimate on the part of the gentlemen referred to. Tho Minister by his procrastination instead of advancing closer settlement, was probably blocking it for generations, because tlioy could not in reason tako lands so recently acquired by others. One wu constrained to feel that there was a screw loose somewhere, and it would bo interesting to know wlioro the fault lay. Was it with the Lam} 1 ' Purchasing Board or with tho Minister? Either tho Land Purchasing Board was ignorant of tho values, or elso the Minister was afraid to act. He would lcavo them at this point—on the horns of a dilemma. Parliament had a right to knoiv what the valuations were that were supplied to the Government, and it was tho duty of the Government, in its own defence, to give that information. Of ooursc lands had risen very considerably during tho last threo months, and an offer of six months ago wag an offer that required increasing this month. In any case, they knew that- tljoso who had taken up tho land would probably jnalco £20.000 by tho venture, ami the department which should be able with all the advantages it commanded, to do ' better for settlement than any private investors. Yet the Minister says ho could not give within 1?. per cent, of what private pooplo could. South and Central Ota go had a right to complain bitterly of the neglect of the Government in tho matter of lands for settlement, in this locality. Tho history, of Moa Flat, taken in conjunction with Olydevalc, raised the intenscot indignation on tho part of thoso who had the interests of cloccr Eettlenient so much at heart. That magnificent estate of 64,000 acres-was offered to the Government for £2 an- acre. It turned- oft the best, sheep in the. province, and was when sold pasturing 72;000 crossbred sheep and hundreds of cattle. Tho -Government would not look at it, but mado a railway towards it. The syndicate that took it up was reported to have made almost as big a profit out of the estate as tho price the Government, by it 3 valuators- j'or taxes, -placodupon it. At the- conclusion he answered several question.

Mr Hirst moved a.hearty vote' of thanH to Mr ilackenzic for his interesting and informative address, and affirming that the meeting considers that any system of land tenure which does not contain the option of the freehold is ininiicablo to the beat interests of tho colony. In speaking lo tho motion, Mr Hirst said tho <leferred payment and tho perpetual lcaso ha<l settled jnore iand in Southland than any other system.

The motion was seconded by Mr Burk (chairman of the local branch of the union). Mr M'Qycen. supported the motion, saying tho only thing to do with tho Land Bill was to ; tear it up and begin afresh. On the invitation ■of tho Chairman Mr Thomson mado a. few remarks. 110 said his viowa on the land question were tho same as those to which hogavo expression when ho stood for Parliament. Ho approved of the limitation clause, and was also in favour of tho endowments, but ho expressed himself a firm believer in tho freehold tenure. Ho affirmed that if tho Land Bill went on tho Statute Book, and remained in force for 50 years, there would bo no freehold in Now Zealand.

Mr A. M. Carmichacl moved an amendment supporting 19 or 21-yoar leases of land for _ settlement lands, and affirming tho desirability of endowments under ccrtain conditions. The 66 years ho would not have at any prion. This was seconded by Mr J. Tompleton. Tho voto of thanks was carried unanimously. The othor part of Mr Hirst's motion was carried with a fairly unanimous sound of voices. Mr Cnrmichael's motion

was lost.