Burying up of large Estates.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1893, 6 October 1886, Page 3

Burying up of large Estates.

When passing through Palmerston some days ago, the Hon Mr Ballance was interviewed by a representative of the Manawatu Times, to whom be expressed himself as follows on the subject of buying up large estates

He stated that the principle would be to giv* associations power to purchase blocks of land belonging to large owners, at properly tax valuation, with say 10 per cent added. Owners, however, would be permitted to retain a certain area of land, though where Associations were formed it would be compulsory for owners, if desired, to sell a large proportion on the terms mentioned. Thus if a man bad say 5000 acres of laud, an Assentation might taka perhaps 4000 and leave him 1000. Be should limit the amount to be held by each member of an Association to 100 acres, though of course an Association as a whole might acquire any area whatever. In response to a retnaik that this would go far to settle tbe question of Und r ituiali-a-tion, Mr Ballance remarked ’• No,” that it would not be on tbe peipetual lease system, but that a man might acquire IDO acres freehold- 1 his was the rough outline of tbe proposal, which, however, would of eonr-e have to be manured. He stated that the scheme would not apply to land near towns only, bat to large blocks in any part of tbe country. On this point Mr Ballanci nmarkedtliat much of tbe present depression was due to the fact that large areas of land B*ai to towns were held by single owners, wbsnaa if cut up tbs laud would hold many families, who would by their wants help to provide an opening for labour and a so a market lot people in towns. Another advanUge to tbs proposed scheme, Mr Ballance nmarkod. arose from tbs fact that as purchases would be made on property tax valuation, it would be a cheek on ths frauds which at present exist in tegaid to tbe pvopsrty tax, sod parsons would not undervalue their properties to escape payment of ths tax. In this connection be remarked on the meat cos* In Wellington, where a puttsmau asked 4136 an acre lor land that vaa raised at £ls aa ears by the Property Tux Department. While speaking on this Nbjaot, ha also mentioned the earn of a large nmueMm lu Hawke's Boy, who possessed seme MUWO aerae, and aa a special favour let A panes 100 aaraa of it, at £1 an acre rental per aawuaa. Aad although this was only land anal to ths Stonge surface of the ran, the whale wea valued at £6 aa acre for property tax purposes ■ Hot a had interest on £6.” UmnAmnW ihiMiijaM.