WAI-ITI LITERARY SOCIETY.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11998, 26 July 1907, Page 2

WAI-ITI LITERARY SOCIETY.

The weekly meeting of the above was held in the schoolroom on Friday vening. Mr Lou. Hoult occupied the chair. There was an excellent attendance. The item for the evening was a debate "Freehold v. Leasehold." Mr I. Tunnicliffe opened for freehold, and mentioned many instances where this form of tenure had proved most advantageous to the people and also to the countries concerned; Instanced Canada drawing one million settlers every year for the sake of getting the freebold: and Ffancej fcwith a freehold population had paid off her war dpbt to the surprise of the world; New Zealand had been colonised on the freehold tenure. He was supported by Messrs E. S. Hoult, F. B. Oropp and. W. Smith. Mr N. O'Conrier opened for leasehold, and claimed that leasehold was the tenure for the future in Nbw Zealand, giving as reasons that freehold encouraged the aggregation of large estates; leasehold Helped the man with small means to get on the Llan'd, and secured to the people the unearned increment. This speaKer went into ancient history to show that leasehold was no new thing, it being recognised in olden times as a proper method of dealing with State lands. Mr O'Connor was supported by Messrs Kingsland Len. Hoult, J. Mead, (J. Mead, and A. C. Batt. A ballot at the close of the debate resulted in favor of leasehold by 25 to 23. A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought a very pleasant evening to a close.