The Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1914. SHAM REFORM AND THE LAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11030, 19 March 1914, Page 4

The Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1914. SHAM REFORM AND THE LAND.

,An extremely interesting fact was brought put by Mr T. "Wilford the other day at Mastorton, when discussing the land question and the necessity for breaking up the largo estates. The member for the Hutt was dealing with the return issued by the Land Depart-ment,"'setting-forth the names of individuals and companies who own land in: fhe dominion with areas attached; and he pointed out that during the past'two years there has been a very remarkable rise- in the number of tho larger landholders. In 1912 there were in' this" country 322 estates, valued at from £SQ,OOO.tQ £30,000; but the 1913 return shows 402 estates in this class—an increase of eighty. Again, in 1912, there were 157 estates, valued at-from £30,000 to £40.000, and in 1913 ','. there were 178—an increase or-'twenty-one. In 1912 there were fixty estates'valued at £40,000 to £30,000, and in 1913 there were seventy-two—an increase of twelve. Collectively; as Mr "VVilford summed up tho position, the 1913 return shows that since 1912 the number of estates, ranging ■ in value from £20,000 to £50,000, has increased in one year by 1.13. : This; is surely a most ominous ind" portentous fact. ••*',* » * . *

It is time that the number of states worth £50,000 and over has decreased from -104 to 88 during the past "tear of so. This means that some of the largest estates have-either been brought up at enormous expense under the Land for. Settlements Act, or hare been -cut up to avoid the graduated supert£x.. But it is safe to say that by far-' the most valuable portion of the land fit for cultivation and settlement'in New Zealand is'comprised in the estates, ranging from £20,000 to £50,000 in value, and as has been shown, itherc was an actual increase of over 20 pet in the number of these estates.during the year before the last returns were issued.

. "We agree with the Auckland " Star " ihat these facts are extremely ominous; lor they show that, in spite of all that Liberalism has dono in the past to break up the great estates and to open up the country for those who wish to fettle on the land, there is a stronglymarked tendency at the present time towards the old order of things that foisted before the days of the BnHaiiceSedcjpn. regime. Our contemporary doc.s pot say.that this aggregation of large holdings is due solely to the aceossibn' of the' " Reform : ' party to power; but it contends that the tendency indicated is inimical in the highest degree to the interests of New Zealand and-its people, and that it ia being encouraged rather than checked by Mr Massoy and his friends. It must never be forgotten that the "Reform" party has already supplied ample proof that it is prepared to sacrifice the interests of the dominion to auV extent to benefit the landholder; and so far its vJajid legislation has been directed almost exclusively to the one object of securing additional advantages for men', fortunate enough to be firmly settled on the land already,

The gift of the freehold is, of course, an immense gain for the landholder already in occupation. But, while on the: one hand it renders aggregation easier than ever before, it dees not add one, single acre to the area available for settlement, nor dees it put one singh additional settler on the land. We will not (says our contemporary) insult the, intelligence of the "Reformers" by suggesting that they are not aware of this. The present Government knows quite well that whatever, the gift of the freehold may have clone for the fortunes of the '•'Reform " party, it could not.have promoted settlement, because the people concerned arc already settled on the land." Mr Massey knows, too, that the leasehold has always been quito attractive enough to bring settlers in crowds to every Crown" land ballot. But it.suits his purposes to ignore this just as it suits him still to talk Vaguely about the vast areas of Crown land and Maori land that the " Reformers " mean to open np. EveryVadv who has examined the statistics of the case is aware that these "vast areas " are non-existent. But wo all know, too, that there are many millions of acres admirably fitted for closo settlement "improved" only by wire fences, and held by the great landlords, who form the backbone of the "Reform ". party; and what chance have the people of New Zealand of seeing thew "vast areas" opened up if the party in power goes back again after tlie election?