FREEHOLD v. LEASEHOLD.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 4728, 13 June 1911, Page 2

FREEHOLD v. LEASEHOLD.

To the Editor. Sir. -The Leader of the Opposition and I believe the Minister of Agriculture—asked a question at the Auckland Winter .Show "What has made Denmark BUeceßsful?" and gave the answer as "the freehold." Such is contrary to fact. The lending to the Danish farmer money a» :; per cent, to buy and equip his farm by the Danish Government is the cause of any seeming prosperity that may occur. (The Government loses at least 1 per cent, on the deal. In Mr Rider Haggard's work lately published on the Danish farmers occurs the following: "One-third of the freeholders are only able to keep their heads above water by hard work, hard living, and the hardest economy: while the others go down altogether. The great bulk of the occupying owners have their small mortgaged up to the extreme limit, and never seem to get out oi the bit." Mr Haggard frankly admits "that even among occupying owners themselves there is growing una strong feeling in favour of a leasehold system with security of tenure, in preference to occupying ownership. -I am, etc., CYRIL JEPHSON. "Hinton," Paterangi.