A PERFECT LAND POLICY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 906, 27 August 1910, Page 11

A PERFECT LAND POLICY.

Sir,—lt is with'the idea oLmaking. the new Closer Settlement Act as useful as .it , is possible to be, ; to banish the suspicion of wire-pulling, and >to remove the, evil consequences of the ballot that is prompting me to write those lines. A great danger has been, created. . There are breakers.ahead,;.upon. which the ship of statecraft is liable to come to grief sooner or later, in conjunction with present and future leaseholds, by' the passing into

law of the periodical revaluation clause. This, proposal would only have been fair to the State under, normal conditions, but it came- too late, when land values had already arrived at fictitious heights. This I have persistently pointed out in correspondence to the public press. The promoters of this clause have entirely overlooked the possibility of a slump in land values, caused • through depression, such as . might, corno from a reverse in the world's _ markets, or through war. It would 'simply be history unexpectedly repeating itself. A slump in land values would enable the State tenant, under the poriodicnl revaluation, to demand a substantial reduction in rent, which the ■Stuto would not bo in a position to grant, because it is living from hand to mouth on borrowed capital. A currency of Slate Hole issue could easily bo utilised for the advances lo settlers and , public work. It is the country's credit, on which for; eign moneylenders should not bo per-' mi tied lo give paper credit. Loans flora

a State bank issue might be paid back in instalments over'periods of 3GJ years, and then withdrawn and fresh ones issued. Of late "years estates have'been bought at unreasonably high prices. I am in a position to quote tie Ngatapa Estate, which I personally inspected when it was under survey previous to the ballot. It comprises 10,000 acres, with a , small area of flat ncaij the homestead. Xowhero had an attempt betn made to plough it, the soil being of a. :iiltcd-up nature, which was cracking on! tho surface. Tho bulk of the estate is inferior, hilly country, covered to a great extent with broom, which it is impossible to ckar, and for this the State paid the magnificent sum of £7 10s.' per acre. Now this leaves a bad taste in tho mouth. It is offered on a 33 years' lease. It would have been much safer for the State to have given the option of the freehold. I would suggest for tho time being that the Purchase of Estates Act bo suspended. ■When the Closer Settlement Act becomes more fully known to the public it will also Ijeeonio more appreciated, providing, the following clauses be added thereto:—(l) Compulsory purchase when an association cannot arrive at reasonable terms with owners; (2) that only landless applicants be permitted to participate;'(3) that residential conditions be strictly enforced; (4) that settlers under this Act bo prohibited from the accumulation of any other land; (5) conditions for improvement to be observed; and (6) that association settlers be given the preference of employment on public works. With these clauses added to the Act, not only will - the evil influence of the ballot be diminished, which is driving laudseekers away, but *'u- intending settlers will then be in a position to choose their own neighbours. Wire-pulling will then be a thing of the past. With the restriction in holding or buying any other lands,, the curse-'of the land greed will gradually leave, in time, and by giving preference of employment to association settlers.if needed on public works nearest at hand. Until then can it bo truly said that New Zealand has a perfect land policy?—! am, etc., ' CHRISS.M.' HANSEN, Motii Post Office, Poverty Bay, August 18, 1910.