LAND AGGREGATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 302, 17 September 1919, Page 10

LAND AGGREGATION

DISCUSSED BY FARMERS CLOSER SETTLEMENT NECESSARY Land aggregation was among the topics discussed at yesterday's sitting of llic ■Now Zealand Farmers' Union Conference.

'Mr. G. L. Marshall (Wellington) moved;—" That in view of the serious menace aggregation of land is becoming to tho wellare of the country, the Government bo urged to take more effective measures to prevent same." Mr. Marshall said it was not considered u good thing in tho "Wellington Provihee for a man to hold too much land. A voic-.:: What is the limit?

Mr. Marshall: The remit does not say. Mr. C. K. "Wilson (Auckland), who seconded the remit, said the Government should sen that land augregntiou was stopped. During tho war aggregation hud been going on, and it was no bcnelit to the country. Men had beon buying land and selling it to tho Government a few days alter for wldiersettlcment at an enormous increase. It was not right. Tift Farmers' Union should protest against any Government which failed to stop land aggregation. Was it right thai large land-wners should l<- able to acquire more land and sell it at enhanced prices for speculative purposes?

Plea for Poor Farmers. Mr. E. A. Campbell (Wanganui) opposed tlio remit. The proposition, he said, was most indefinite. Same holdings were too small, and why nliould the owners be prevented from increasing thorn? There were poor farmers struggling along on poor land, and.Burely tiiey should be allowed to purchase land or better quality. . Mr. H. 1). Vavasour (Marlborough) said the motion' was the most "viciou* proposition ever placed before tao conference." The ■effect of pre renting aggregation would bo to put a stop to all enterprise. ~ ■.. Mr 11, D. Duxfield (Auckland) said there were sufficient restrictions at present and it would be dangerous to pass the remit in its present vague form, fco loir-' as lands were made productive mill were not acquired for speculative purposes ho could not sec that much harm *Mr W B Matheson (Wellington) said that "land aggregation was as a menace. "It is talked about by ignorant people as a serious_ menace fo pointed out, "but tho fact w that the average holding in New Zealand getting smaller every year, and how ca von w aggregation is a menace when hat . s goingon? To-day wo are taking ven- stannous steps to prevent men holdiji" too large areas. Mr J 11. Jolt (Hawke's Bay) remarked that "no one would object to a man mc easing his ten-acre holding to one of Z acres. It was the men owning 10,003 acres that they desired to got at.

Where Are the Facts? Mr D Jones (North Canterbury) said a bald awwtiwn was being made thit l.nd «W'«»«° n was a menace. Vher e« the facts to support that Sent? The mover the remit had not brought tho i™ Book with thorn to prove then sUe men s Nothing had been suggestedas. 7;v much land a man « «wn ittl w ,ovo,,kUO a Wg. ( thought hat aggregation could bo prevented by increased taxation on large U M?TAf«v«-«»(T«''» nilki)Saitn -' D,VnB own a lard and fast T Ss% liowmuch land any man U noconded the T d C e K. Wilson said the proof that j nro making a rod for your back ; you don't come out and affirjt that }« ~™ against aggregation ot land, ton tinned A •- Wilson. He gave «n ■»- 1 tee of a place where there wero a .onXethirU holding ■i i«st office, but which 10-daj was vac™. That, he aajd, was another mm that aggrcg/.Uon was going on. %Tr J»Uaid that what the country required was closer settlement. He iiked leave to alter his motion as folo„s --That this conference affirms the nrtaciple that unduly largo ureas of land Eld not he acquired by any ono >naiSrence refused leave to alter the ninHon in that direction. "Bl\ Moss (Wellington) sWod tha it'was undue aggregation of land that hedesired to prevent. Ho supported the amendment. Eeturned soldiers wero "nade the victims of the operation of laud speculators, who cared not a scrap for the country so long aa they enriched themselves.

"Panic of Land Gambling." "There seems to be a panic of land gambling going on in l^* 1 ;. "j" marked Mr. George Sheat (Unterlnuj). "U is merely going on for he sake ot speculation, and that is wiat 1 wish to S, I" o why send it out to the Labourites that it does F All we need to do is to ' tote principle that M aro opposed ?n vgr gntion. There is land epeculaio. 1o«g on, and that I wish to see Wed! hut how you are K r,ng to stop t , "!, .„ v You cannot stop that une of a newspaper r C a.,r&ed;.n ??H,eS5cS h initiative of th<. subot the siDF . , ]nm to nn iKt.^Woif'J.Vtw.ut.t,*, th Th'e amendment moved by Mr. Maxwell was carried. , MINING NEWS 1 wpLLIKGaoFMAUEi MARKET. I V J ..notations yesterday for mining ' eUares were aa under: - Bliyprßi gcllers , I .j; b. d. £8. d. I , - «l(f Pbc.kwatcr _ 0 la 5 'J'alisinan 'ZZ-'-L ! STOCK EXCHANGK. ] fly Telcitr..i,n-I'iw relation. 1 Clirlstchurch, September 16. 1 Sale. Bcportcd.-New Zealand Insurance, £1 Ms. 6d. rjunadln September 16. ■ Sales-lluddart-I'arker. Its. M.. *3b. M-i Papuan Product*, te. 6(1.; Lycll, 25a. IW' Westport Coal, 295. 6d., Ms. 6ri.; New Zealand Bcfrigerating. 50s. (Silos Koport-ed-Goldabroußli Mort., ««. od.; Jlilburn I/imc, 345. 6d.