THE LEASE IN PERPETUITY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12562, 15 July 1910, Page 5

THE LEASE IN PERPETUITY

Speaking in the Legislative Council to-day, the Hon. J t . H> McGowan (Auckland) contended tluat the leas 6' in perpetuity -was the worst form :,t>ftonuro ever introduced in any country. There could be no difference- o£ opinion as to the injury "done .to the Stato by tho system ;of giving up land for a thousand years at 4 per cent. He thought that there was nothing more important than the tenure of the land. Limitation of area was much less important than limitation of time. The Government should not sail a single ?jcro of land nor lease a single acre for move than 50-years. Ho thought that there was enough water power for both the State and private companies to develop, bift it should only be let to private companies at a charge that would bo fair to the Stats. Mr MeGowan expressed general approval ol Di\ Findlay's prison .reform schemes, but opposed the idea of a fruit farm worked by prison labour, on tlie ground that this would interfere with privats enterprise. He admitted the general desire of men for the • freehold, but contended that that was due to the greed of man and to the power which ownership of land conferred. If the land tenuro was right and people could get upen the land, there would be no unemployment. The Government should not sell a singlo aero of land nor lease a single acre for more than 50 years. ■„