The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of Over 6000 Weekly. THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1903.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1499, 5 March 1903, Page 2

The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of Over 6000 Weekly. THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1903.

A kecknt telegram from Blenheim stated that some 200,000 acres of Marlborough land, including the North Bank Estate, had been offered for selection at the Lands Oilice. It is stated that with the exception of one small run, for which there were ninety-three applicants, competition was not keen. This is a great contrast to what has happened in almost every instance in the North Island when land has been thrown open for selection. It will be remembered that the Government bad "iven notice to purchase the Elaxbourne Estate in Marlborough, which embraces a large urea and is situated on the proposed PictonChristchurch railway. There is a wide divergence of opinion between the owners and the Government ofliccrs as to the value of this property. The Premier stated that it would depend upon the price whether the Government took the land or not ; they would not pay too big a price, and added that this was not the only estate on tho line of railway. The above facts are not very important in themselves, but an importance is given lo them in consequence of the remark which they extracted from the Premier. He is reported to have said: 'in his opinion the best thing to do would be to pass an Act providing for t he taking over ot properties within a certain number of years at present valuations.' We quite recognise that it is not altogether

equitable that private owners should reap the whole of tho enhanced value of their land consequent on the construction of a railway; but to legislate in the direction the Premier suggests would place undue discretionary power in the hands of the Ministry of the day. To pursue the principle to its logical conclusion, the Premier might have suggested that all the land in the colony should bo valued in the year 1903, and that value 6xed as that at which the Government could acquire it within any given number of years. Railways are not the only public works which add to the value of land; in fact there is no justifiable public work which does not invariably have this effect. The Premier's proposal would have the effect of absolutely confiscating all unearned increment at the will of Ministers. This would he a very short cut to the goal of the singletaxers.