LAND VALUES BILL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25301, 11 August 1943, Page 2

LAND VALUES BILL

MEASURE CONDEMNED FARMERS' RIGHTS IN DANGER The opinion that, if the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Bill becomes law, it will have serious repercussions was expressed yesterday by the president of the Otago Provincial Council of the Farmers’ Union (Mr William Lee). "No farmer will have anv feeling of security regarding the freehold of his holding,’’ he added, “and those farmers whose life’s, ambition it has been to hand on their property to their sons will be left in the air. In other words, the Bill proposes to abolish the right of inheritance of landed property.” An Unjust Penalty Mr Lee added that apparently those men who had stood by the land during the present crisis and who, in many cases, had been “ man-powered ” by the appeal boards to remain on the farms instead of going overseas, were to be penalised now in favour of returned soldiers from this war. Even returned soldiers who acquired land under this Bill were not to have the right of the freehold. Soldiers from the last war were not to be protected, as the only exception provided for was land held by servicemen who were at the present time serving outside New Zealand in his Majesty’s forces. Apart from that, any land might be acquired by the proposed Land Sales Court. “As one who believes that stability in any country is best obtained by the ownership by a man of his own home and holding, whether it be small or large, I feel that this Bill hits at the root of our whole national economy,” said Mr Lee. Financial Aspect Another matter which he felt was of importance, Mr Lee continued, was the provision of the necessary finance for land settlement and development. During recent years it had been exceedingly difficult to obtain money for this purpose, more especially since the passing of the Mortgage Adjustment Act. This new Bill would sound the death knell of the security of land as an investment. At a time wheri every farmer was being pressed t<? increase his production as his contribution to the war effort it was surely most illadvised that an attempt such as this should be made to put through legislation of such a far-reaching and revolutionary nature. “To me,” he concluded, “it appears to be a most inopportune time to rush through a Bill so wide in its implications without giving ample time for consideration.”