SPEECH BY THE HON M'NAB

West Coast Times, Issue 14140, 17 June 1907, Page 3

SPEECH BY THE HON M 'NAB

Important Announoent as to

the Land Bill

Will be Produced Early in the Session

- Wellington, June 16 la his epeeoh at Stratford, the Minister of Lands announced that the Government intended to effect the l'mt;lion of esta'ea by putting on a heavy graduated tiz. Apropos of this, the "Post" states it is authorised by the Minister to cay it has been definitely decided by the Government that a " Lirai- - ition Proposals Bill" will be introduoed on a taxation bans, and that a measure on these lines has baen drafted, and is now ready for presentation to Parliament. Tbcsa proposals will rca'ly be male part of a taxation bill, which ttll be submitted separately to the Home. Eodowment proposah will also be submitted separately, and the net

result will therefore be that any person who desires to take np a section of land will.(out Bide of endowment) be still in a position to take up either freehold or leasehold. Tbe small landholders in New Zealand have been quietly pressing tori limitation proposals more drastic than those outlined in the Bill presented to Parliament last year. So far as tbe Minister can see, th?. only direction in which trouble is now likely to arise is in the substitution of the 66 years for 999 years base. In this connection he does not anticipate the Government will have any very great difficulty to contend wi'h in fighting the demand for freehold, but if any system of freeboli is conceded, it will have to be along the lines of a modification of last years' measuie. The

Land Bill will be amongst the very first business of the session, aud it will be introduced in tbe shape of tbree concrete measures providing for (a) limitation by way of graiucted tax; (b) state endow mente of land, and (c) a Bill proper, dealing with the sixty^six years' Itaae, and lease in perpetuity, tenant t, and amendment) of minor importance to existing legit la tion.