LABOUR’S LAND POLICY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15863, 7 July 1919, Page 3

LABOUR’S LAND POLICY.

(Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 5. Labour’s land policy was discussed at the conference of the New Zealand Labour Party today. The president (the Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C.) submitted the following elaboration of the platform which was adopted unanimously: (1) The conservation of endowment. (2) Recognition of the whole community in the land' by: (a) A land tenure based on occupancy and us© which , shall secure to the working farmer the full fruits of his labour and exertions; .(b) securing to the community of all values created by the community; (c) e'imination of exploitation; (1) of the working farmer by the institution of a State Bank; (2) of the community by securing for it the rent of land now absorbed principally by money lending institutions; (d) tenant’s absolute right to improvements; (e) improved road access in rural districts by increased graduated tax on large estates. 3 (a) Stata valuation of all privately owned land, such valuation to remain on record as the measure of the present land holder’s interest in the land; (b) ’and shall not be sold or transferred except to or from the State; (c) owner shall have the right to surrender land 02i the valuation set out in sub-clause (a). 4 (a) Immediate discontinuance of the present wasteful method of destroying valuable timber and placing on unroaded land; (b) all virgin land to be prepared for occupation by the State before settlement; (c) the State to undertake all developmental work and where advisable land developed .shall form the nucleus of State farm.

The president stressed the party’s sympathy with small struggling farmers and said that the party was out for everything it could get to protect him and tc give him the fulj : fruits of his labour.

The question was asked as to whether the proposals referred to city lands as well as country lands, and the answer was in the affirmative.