The Land Bill.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43118, 25 July 1907, Page 2

The Land Bill.

THE LAND REFORMERS.

WHAT MR LAURENSON THINKS. Mr G. Lausenson, as representing the Land Reform Party, indicated that he was by no means dissatisfied with the Government’s land policy as contained in the Bills. “I have gone rapidly over the Bills that have been laid on the table of the House,” he said, “ and they certainly differ very materiallyfrom what was indi r "it''d in die financial statement. First and foremost, the new Land Bill gives us a 33 years’ lease instead of the 66 years’ lease for land for settlements lands. This is a tremendous advance on la; t year’s proposal, and has my heartiest approval. It will appeal to all who desire to see a real advance in the direction of land reform. Pastoral land will still be let under ■ 5

the 14 years and 21 years leases already in existence, and the only land that will be subject to the 66 years’ lease will be Crown land that is at present unoccupied. The next great gain from the land reform point il view is that for the future the Government will not be required to pay exorbitant prices for land acquired under the Land for Settlements Act, since owners will be loft to fix their own values, and the land may be taken at that value, plus a percentage. If the owners put on high values they will have to pay taxes accordingly, and if their values are too low their land may be taken. As a result the values will be fixed at a fair figure, and when the land is required for close settlement it will be taken at that rate. We have sustained some losses. Instead of all the land now in the hands of the Crown being set apart as a national endowment an area of nine million acres only is to be reserved. I realise that this concession is. necessary in order to enable the Bill to get through the House. Then the only attempt to provide for the limitation of estates is a graduated tax commencing at £40,000. The tax should be commenced at £2o,''oo, and I hope still to achieve something in that direction. The provisions giving preference to landle-s people and married men and women with children in the allocation of Crown lands are good, and I believe that the abolition of the ballot system in connection with land for settlements land will discourage speculation and give the State a fairer return. Altogether I think that, although we have had to yield, on some points, our gains have been considerable If we can start the graduated tax at £20,000 instead of £40,000 the Land Bill null be a great advance upon anything which we have already been able to seoure in this colony.”