THE WAIPA POST. THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1920. Published on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. LAND SETTLEMENT.

Waipa Post, Volume XII, Issue 944, 20 May 1920, Page 4

THE WAIPA POST. THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1920. Published on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. LAND SETTLEMENT.

ALTHOUGH the Government has, in recent legislation and regulation, introduced measures which must restrict the operations of the land speculator, it is fairly certain that still more stringent measures will have to be taken before production is the underlying motive in land transactions. According to report, in this very district a degree of aggregation is being attempted by wealthy individuals and syndicates. This sort of thing calls for the utmost discouragement, and it may be hoped that the authorities will very carefully watch any movement which tends towards aggregation and use to the fullest extent possible every existing regulation to prevent it. Instances have been heard of tempting offers to returned soldier settlers to dispose of their lands to adjoining owners,

and this sort of practice, following closely after all the effort that has been made towards repatriation by j land settlement, is opposed to every patriotic principle. The offers may be tempting, but what the settler has to consider—be he returned soldier or civilian —is that under recent regulations he will be debarred from again participating in the ballots for Crown lands for several . years to come. In these circumstances any immediate offer would require to be particularly tempting before being acceptable to any far-seeing man or woman. The pity of it is that the speculative element has so possessed some people as to obscure the real interests of the country and dwarf requirements of legitimate settlement We could welcome a few more men like Mr Park, who has set such a worthy example in making land available at a reasonable figure, and who, with the advent of the new settlers, is so readily helping to bridge the difficulties of establishment. What an example is thus set for the many other farmers hereabouts who have more land than they can profitably utilise, and who are little more than respectable gamblers who risk the future and hold on in expectation of a better market. In reality the unoccupied or partially-used lands are a drain on a district. With closer settlement would naturally come better farming, better social conditions, and a host of improvements in which I everybody would benefit. . j I'he remedy for land speculation lies with the Government. There should be a higher graduation in the land tax, and, after defining what is -a reasonable area for a productive' farm, every additional acre should be so heavily taxed that nobody could afford to hold it for speculative purposes. Moreover, except where lands are purchased for actual occupation, the fees incidental to transfers should be doubled or even trebled, and this would to some extent minimise the risk of absentee owners, who are a curse to any district. It may be hoped that in the coming session Parliament will deal with this important question, particularly in the direction of imposing a higher graduated land tax. The present and future needs of the country demand action on these lines. It is one of the courses open by which more speedy and successful settlement will be encouraged.