THE LAND BILL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12784, 30 October 1919, Page 8

THE LAND BILL.

SECOND READING DEBATE. [Pkr Press Association. 3 ■ WELLINGTON, October 29. In the House of Representatives this evening, the Hon D. H. Guthrie moved the second reading ,of the Laud Laws Amendment Bill. Ho explained that tlie Bill provided for setting up a number of Land Purchase Boards to assist in dealing with Iqfid for soldiers. There probably would be thirteen boards, with three members on each. If it was asked why these boards were being sot up, his reply was that a sum of £6,599,10-1 had been spent in settling (5500 soldiers. It had become evident that the increased work created by this responsibility was more than ordinary Land boards could cope with. There was also the question of local knowledge, which these new boards possessed in larger degree than ordinary Land Boards. Representation on these boards wpuld lie liberal, but no one engaged in land agency business would bo eligible as a member. He explained that the Bill reinstated the old homestead tenure, and also affirmed the principle of one man one run in pastoral country. The remainder of the clauses were mostly of a- machinery nature. Clause 19 dealt with the aggregation of land in a -manner which ho hoped would bo effectual. Sir Joseph IVard congratulated the Government upon the advance in its land policy, as shown by tho Bill. Ho could remember fights over land Bills of tho past, and ho thought that if somo former 'members of the Government party could see some proposals in the Bill, they would marvel at tho change that had taken place. He endorsed the policy of settlement, more settlement and still more settlement, but he wanted to know how much Crown land was left with which to carry out this policy. His idea _ was that the only remedy was the readjustment of the graduated land tax. What this country needed was increased production. That depended on closer settlement, and unless the large landowners in New Zealand recognised this there was going to be a revolution in this country before long, because the people would not go on paying famine prices for the necessaries of life. He approved iiiafiy proposals in the Bill, but he was convinced that this country must be a country of smaller settlement, and the large landowners must be made to appreciate this by a material advance in the graduated land tax. He was not altogether satisfied with the proposals to stop aggregation, because they did not go far enoughThe provisions should apply, to soldiers’ lands which had been purchased during tlie war, and transfers should be more closely scrutinised by Land Boards. Aggregation of large estates must be prevented, because New Zealand desired to become a country of small settlements. Mr Massey said the proposals of the Bill regarding homestead settlement were an improvement on tho old law, inasmuch as provision now was made to give settlers financial assistance. This was experimental, certainly, but he had every hope that if the officers of the Grown were careful, large areas of land now waste would be brought into profitable settlement. He defended the policy of buying laud for soldiers, because of being able to pay cash and it was bought cheaply, and while the security remained tho soldier could be safely assisted. He agreed that the system of land taxation must be revised but in doing ao a way must be found for relieving the small settler. On the subject of aggregation, he claimed to be' the first Minister of Lands who had made a systematic attempt to prevent aggregation, but he believed the real remedy was increased graduated land * taxation. Everyone admitted that the cost of living had gone up, but most people were apt to forget that the cost of production had gone up too. He knew of small farmers who were making less money than the men working for thorn, so that all producers were not making the large fortunes many supposed they were making. He hoped that the Bill would do something to bring about a new- era, but ho reminded the people of-this country that there could be no happiness without industry, and what this country wanted more than anything else was industry, more industi7 and still more industry. The Hon W. D, S. Mac Donald approved of much in the Bill, especially the proposal to set up land purchase boards. Ho wanted to see more drastic measures taken in connection with breaking up big estates than anythinoproposed in the Bill. He also wanted to see better conditions given to the men who settled on the poorer lands. Mr,Pearce protested against the proposal to pay for aggregation land resumed by the Government on the basis °f. present valuation. One valuation might be six months old and another six years old. The Hon D. Buddo thought that the Bill was a modest effort to encourage settlement, and, no doubt, the country would be better for it. but the attempt to settle third-class lands in 1000-acre blocks was bound to fail. ~ Mr Buddo was sneaking the Prime Minister entered the' Chamber and announced that Mr Colvin member for Buller, had been killed in a tram accident in the city. He moved Hon 3mmer ia^e adjournment of th,e The motion was carried and tho House rose.