LAND SALES BILL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25299, 9 August 1943, Page 2

LAND SALES BILL

A VIGOROUS INDICTMENT “GOAL OF NATIONALISATION” Speaking as president of the Farmers’ Federation, a body representative of all farming interests and organisations in the Dominion, Mr James Begg strongly criticised the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Bill in an interview on Saturday. He called pointed attention to the far-reaching implications of the measure and suggested that it was an instalment of the Government’s policy of land nationalisation. “In this Bill,” Mr Begg said, “ the Government uses the returned soldiers as a screen from behind which it hopes to go part of the way to its goal of land nationalisation. The Bill deprives land owners of rights they at present possess, and it should be noted that many landowners are soldier settlers from the last war. It would appear that a soldier of 1917 may be deprived of his farm to make room for a soldier of 1942. “ Simplicity of land titles, and simple methods of transfer have been objects of legislation in this and many other countries, these being considered desirable objects. Complex and Confusing

“This Bill introduces endless complications,” Mr Begg said, “ and transfers will be subject to long delays and much uncertainty. The selling prices of land are to be fixed by land sales committees, which may or may not be competent, and the members of which may be dismissed at any time.” Mr Begg said that the terms “ basic value,” “ productive value,” and “ fair value ” were quite nebulous, and however interpreted might have no relation to the value of land. Land values did not depend on the prices of produce in December, 1942, but on the prices and costs which would be current from 1944 and onwards. On this point the “ man in the street ” was as competent to judge as any court or committee. “ Soldier farmers from the last war who have sweated and worked on their farms for 20 or 25 years, and now require a rest, are to be deprived of their legal rights,” Mr Begg said. “Moreover, servicemen of the present war, who settle on the land, will find that the liberty for which they have been fighting is denied to them, and they in turn may have the result of their labour filched from them. Dangerous Implications “The Farmers’ Federation is anxious to help in any way possible to assist in soldier settlement, and has offered its services to the Minister, but it is of opinion that this Bill is a retrograde step and will discourage instead of facilitate land settlement. “ Returned servicemen would do well to consider all the implications of this Bill,” Mr Begg added, “ remembering that the intending soldier settlers of to-day will be the landowners of tomorrow, and may have their legal rights further invaded by Bills designed to complete the nationalisation of land, with complete control over the actions of the occupiers of land.”