LABOUR PARTY

Southland Times, Issue 20618, 17 October 1928, Page 6

LABOUR PARTY

THE LAND POLICY ADDRESS BY MR H. E. HOLLAND OCCUPANCY AND USE (Per United Press. Association ) Westport, October 16. A special feature of Mr H.-Ei Holland’s address this evening was his detailed statement of the Labour Party’s land policy. He said they would aim at breaking up the larger estates and would employ two methods to that end. Firstly, the land tax would be far more steeply graded against the larger estates than was now the case, and secondly, a Labour Government would take power to acquire either the whole or any portion of lhe larger estates for closer settlement. Wherever possible land would be acquired on the basis of purchase by negotiation. Where this was not possible the compulsory clauses of the existing legislation would be put into operation. The valuation of properties acquired would be determined by the Valuer-General in the usual way, but the interests of owners would be safeguarded by the right of appeal as explained by him at Masterton. Land so resumed w’ould be settled on a leasehold tenure with perpetual right of renewal, guaranteeing permanency of occupation. There would be periodic revaluations, and the tenant’s absolute right to the value, of his improvements would be provided for. Where heavily timbered lands were found to be suitable for agricultural and pastoral settlement the State would undertake the work of clearing so that the farmer would be in a position to enter upon the work of production immediately. In the process of clearing wherever timber could be economically milled this would be done and timber values would be conserved to the State instead of being destroyed by fire as w’as necessarily often the case now. In many cases it would be possible to ntike the timber milled assist in paying for the clearing of the land. New Settlements. They would lay it down as a foundation principle that in every case where a new district was to be settled the main road to the settlement must be formed and streams bridged by the date the settlers entered into occupation. They regarded as uneconomic the method of placing families on the land and leaving them without access to the markets to which they stood in relation of both purchasers and suppliers. Intensive farming would be helped and encouraged. The resources of the State would be utilized to make possible the application of the most scientific methods, and the marketing of fertilizers would be organized so as to ensure adequate supplies to primary producers at the lowest possible cost. Furthermore, the State would give the maximum of assistance to organizations of farmers for co-operative production, purchasing, shipping, marketing and credit. The existing tenure would not be interfered with. The Labour Party’s land platform declared for a full recognition of the owner’s interest in all land, including tenure, the right of sale, transfers and bequest, but they stood for the fundamental principle of occupancy and use. The Labour Party had nothing whatever to offer to the speculator and gambler in land values. They would make it a condition that whoever desired to hold land in New Zealand must occupy and use it. He then proceeded to deal with rural credits and State and agricultural banking. MR DENHAM’S CAMPAIGN. Mr W. C. Denham addressed a meeting at Kapuka on Monday at 7 p.m. Mr Harsen occupied the chair. The candidate received a sympathetic hearing. At 8.30 p.m. Mr Denham addressed a meeting of farmers in the Oteramika Hall. Mr Milne was in the chair. The chairman in introducing the candidate said it was the first time in his life that he had the pleasure of introducing a Labour candidate to an audience. And he hoped it would not be his last. He assured the candidate that- he would receive a very attentive hearing. Mr Denham addressed the meeting for an hour and a half after which questions were answered. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried by acclamation.