THE LAND BILL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13241, 22 March 1907, Page 5

THE LAND BILL.

DR FIND LAY'S CAMPAIGN. A HALF-HEARTED GREETING. Per Press Association. ' NEW.TLYMOIITH, .'March 21.The Hon. Dr. Findlav opened liis political: campaign -.before a large gathering to-night. Dealing witli <tlie land question. he said that it now seemed to have passstl the calm controversial stages and become a fighting political creed expressed by party cries and preposterous misrepresentation. The: and front of i:lie Government offending on the Land Bill was ; hat they'. would preserve the poor remnant of . Crri.wn lands for pensions, hospitals, ! and education. The -cry that they sought to destroy the freehold was idle l.onsense. . The bigge?t- class interested were the landless people of the colony who, were doing little or no shouting,; but- the' effectiveness ot' their votes would not be reduced by that. The question must be| from a national standpoint, not -from that of any particular class. Subdividing for closer settlement, was new approved, and the only question raised wais one of means. Tli'e Government were prepared' ,to. accept advice if necessary to change the material clauses of the Land Bill. The provision for a reduction of tlie £50,000 limit was condemned. Mr Massey .suggested .oi 'graduated tax.. If the Opposition would join the Government in this, they would soon have subdivision of large estates. The Government were going, to break up the large estates and prevent, aggregation in future. If'a limitation to £15,000 was ineffective, then have a graduated tax. He could- not -support the n.rgiunent to give the freehold to the land for settlement, tenants. . 'The Government had done enough for thoso settlers, each of whom had cose the country an average of: £l2COj- andv it was unfair to , .ask ■ for* further benefit-.----.- r l.hey ; . were , offered the land at the price of unimproved freeholds to-dav. He-warned the small settlers that the alliance preferred by the hip: land owners, ostensibly, in the fiee: hold cause, was not a moral or true alliance. Least in perpetuity tenants alreadv had concessions in a nxea rental' for '999 years, . but - wanted more. The repurchase system would soon liavo to be-superseded. Dr Findlay then went on to deal with the provisions ol rhe Bill and ii>, inducements to scttteiK. He announced'••that.-.- more freehold would I>3 offered during the next two years than in the previous twenty, to a large extent, by using'.native, lands. A motion -to carried, with some dissension, thanking; the Attorney-General . . f»r his address and : expressing conhdence in ihe Ministrv, but adding the hope that. tna Ministry would ni6(lify the provisions ol tlie Land Bill "V