The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1919. THE NEW LAND BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 October 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1919. THE NEW LAND BILL.

What is claimed to be one of the most important Land Bills that has been introduced into the House in recent years was brought down on Monday evening, its main purport being the improvement ol the methods of acquisition and settlement of land. A measure of this kind was certainly needed to enable the Government to meet the npw conditions that have arisen in consequence of the war and to facilitate placing returned soldiers on the land. It was also required in view of the flow of immigrants to this country in the near future, but, above all, for acquiring and dealing with large estates and to counteract aggregation. A new departure is made by the appointment of a land purchase controller, who is presumably to be chairman of the Dominion Land Purchase Board, whereof the Under-Secretary of Lands and the Surveyor-General are also to be ex officio members, the others being appointed by the Government. This board replaces the existing Land Purchase Commissioners, and is to be assisted by local land purchase boards in the business of purchasing land. The principle involved in this step is sound and businesslike, and is decidedly of a progressive nature. The re-establishment of homestead settlements has an element of surprise, but it is apparently the only way in which land unsuitable" for disposal under the ordinary land tenures—such as pumice or gum lands—can be brought into cultivation and assist in the task of increasing production. Under this scheme the lands are disposed of under license for ten years, no rent being payable or other charge made for the right of occupation, but licensees have to erect a residence within twelve months and to reside therein. Obviously the class of men who would take up this kind of land would be those who, as a rule, would possess little but their ability to work, and work hard, so that Government financial aid would be necessary, and provision is rightly made in this direction. With energy and perseverance the licensees should, in time, reap a fair return for their labor, and every encouragement should be given to make the scheme a thorough success. An incentive to this end is to be found in the proviso that, after seven years of occupation, the licensee can obtain the freehold of the land. The clauses relating to the aggregation evil demand very close scrutiny if capitalists are to be prevented from piling up holdings. The summary of the Bill indicated the existence of a provision to enable the Government to acquire all aggregated land at the value on the district valuation roll in force at the time of its acquisition by the purchaser, plus ten per cent., and if acquired otherwise the compensation is not to exceed the sum at which the land is assessed for stamp duty. This is quite satisfactory as far as it goes, but unless a clear definition of what is "aggregation" is laid down there are many loopholes of escape. It is well known that a capitalist bemt on acquiring as much land as he can get has more than one way of so doing, a common plan being to have the land transferred to nominees and secured by a mortgage that virtually enables him to retain ii:e actual ownership. It will he extremely difficult to meet evasions, the only sure remedy being to limit the area to be held by any one man, including his

family, relatives, or nominees, compelling him to give up the remainder on receiving fair compensation, in assessing which shall be taken into account the amount the land has produced during the last decade. The restriction of pastoral run holdings is an easy matter if it made a penal offence for a holder to conspire with others in order to have the use of a large block of land. Unless drastie remedies are applied the evil will still continue. The Government is certainly to be commended for restoring to returned soldiers the privilege of acquiring the freehold of l.i.p. lands, owing to the time limit having expired while the men were on active service. The Bill is capable of improvement., but it may be welcomed as an instalment of land legislation on the right lines.