TE AROHA LEASES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20052, 15 September 1920, Page 8

TE AROHA LEASES.

FREEHOLD DEMANDED/ A PARLIAMENTARY FIGHT. [From Ouu Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, September 14. , . F°r the second time this session sufficient leaseholders were found in the House to stave off the adoption of a recommendation of the Lands Committee that To Aroha Crown leaseholders should have the right to convert to tho freehold. They talked out the report by discussing it till the dinner adjournment. j Mr Atmore was tho first to raise his voice in protest. It appeared to him that there was a strong indication of opening up the whole question of endowments. If the Minister would give an assurance that this was not so it would allay much public feeling. He had been given to understand that the purpose of granting the freehold was so that holders could dispose of their land. Ho thought this would bo a retrograde step. Though it was only a peppercorn rent, there was no doubt that the local body were willing to sacpresent revenue for the further benefit that would accrue if the sections were put in the open market. Was tho State going to sacrifice the leasehold and buy up more country at a DUich greater expenditure? This had already been done. He instanced a case where 192,01)0 acres of leasehold jvcre_sold for £335,000 and subsequently 176,000 acres of new country were I bought at a cost of two millions. He u 11 °k- stl ' on Kly wedded To the leasehold principle, but be was championing the interests of the people. The whole question was speculation in land, £vhere the public was the loser in each fotse. There was no question that lands around hot springs should be held by the Government, and be a boon to invalided people. He hoped other members would follow his attitude in defending the interests of the people. Mr T. W. Rhodes contended that it was a just cause, which the Government should approve. The statement of the previous speaker regarding reinvestments _ was of little importance, as the land in the respective cases was of different value. The property was held under mining lease, but Te,Aroha was no longer a mining district The granting of the freehold would give an impetus to the town. It would encourage the building of private hotels, in which to house visitors wishing to avail themselves of the curative properties of the water. As far as the Crown was concerned, it would benefit greatly. It had expended £12,000 without return, ami now had an opportunity of realising more than £250,000. The whole feeling at Te Aroha was unanimous that the granting of the freehold was a good thing for the district. “ A RARE OLD SCRAP.' 1 “ We may be a bare remnant,” remarked Mr Isitt, with a smile, “but if the Government comes down with a proposal o to sell our National Endowments we are going to have a rare old scrap before we give way.” (Hear, hear.) He pointed out that New Zealand might contain a population of twenty millions in less than a century, when these lands would have a huge value. It way all very well to say that the money realised from the land would be invested, but nothing could prevent its dissipation, therefore he wished to inform the Prime Minister that there would be a tough struggle if it was proposed to sell any part, of the National Endowment. Mr Holland suggested that leaseholders’ difficulties could be got over without parting with the freehold. It certainly did not seem as if the Government was attacking the principle of endowments. Ho quoted a Te Aroha speaker at a recent meeting, when a suggestion was made that Mr Massey had promised to put tho proposal through Parliament, though he anticipated opposition from Labour and a few Liberals. An auction sale of sections under this tenure showed that £3O to £3s_ 10s per acre was realised. Ono section of two acres of residential land was sold at £3lO. If the leases were converted to freehold the price would ! be forced up. Mr T. W. Rhodes: The Crown will get it. Mr Holland: The gambling won’t stop.at the price paid to the Crown. Mr Horn stated that he was well acquainted with mining township leases, but ho regarded Te Aroha as a different class of place., It was a great natural asset to New Zealand. The Government should not part with the land, because the demand for mineral water would grow so much that bores would have to be put down to obtain it. Mr Parry urged members to be on a sharp lookout against filching the national heritage. “We have almost sold everything that’s any good,” ho added, and they would give away the remainder. He referred to people who would take away the heritage of children and old age pensioners as a gang of political brigands. He moved to refer the report back to the committee. Mr Witty, in supporting the amendment, said that there was not a full attendance at the Lands Committee meeting when the resolution was passed. The rent was merely nominal, a lessee being able to get a dwelling site for five shillings a year. Tho Hon J. A. Hanan asked members not to merely take a present-day view of the position, but to look forward to (he time when Now Zealand would have developed into maturity. If the principle was accepted in regard to Te Aroha it would be only a matter of time when the endowments which were set aside owing to the foresight and patriotism of Otago and Canterbury pioneers would disappear. He' would like to hear what reply the Lands Committee had to make'to all the criticism which had been heard. Mr Lysnar heartily supported the recommendation, which members appeared to be making a party question. One would think the birthright of the people was being sold. Tho fact .was that it was the disposal of a bad asset and a sale that would allow the town to develop. “ WAIT AND SEE.” Mr Sullivan, who carried on tho debate with an eye-upon tho clock hands slowly travelling toward the hour of adjournment, described the proposal as stripping the country of its endowments. Mr Massey: There is no such proposal. Mr Sullivan: lam glad to hear there is no intention to part with the endowments. Mr Massey; I did not say so. (Laughter.) Mr Sullivan; I would like to know exactly what the Premier does mean to say. Mr Massey: You wait and see. Mr Craigie said that Mr Lysnar would not like to dispose of the harbour board endowments at Gisborne. What held good in one instance should apply in national concerns. y J Mr Lysnar: The title is different Messrs Craigie, Edie and Sidey carried the discussion on till its interruption at 5.30. The last speaker made the point that control over aggregation would disappear if leasehold areas were alienated.