The Land Policy of the Government.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1847, 30 August 1906, Page 3

The Land Policy of the Government.

VARIOUS VIEWS

1 Special to the Times. Wellington, last night. The one topic of conversation to-day is tho land polioy of t'ao Government as out lined in toe Financial Statement and it is ooitainly being condemned in many and ur.oxpecttd quarters. Tho various good points in tho budget aro being quite ovcir shadotvod by the declaration on tho land quest-iou, and as I am given to understand tnat the Government intend to stand or fall by their land polioy, tho position becomes intensely interesting. Too Lrader of tho Opposili m thinks the matter is

aufliouintly serious to warrant an appeal 1 1 tie country’, aid that b( f jra attanpSirvg 1 j piss tiioh a Lind Bill thoco should ba a

gcnsral election. This morning I had a further intorviow on the subject with Mr \V, A. Rutherford, the moving spirit in the Country Fatty, whioh now numbers twenty members, mostly Government suppottore. Since I saw him last ovening Mr Rutherford has more closely studied the proposals and is more fully than ever convitced that they go ia the wrong direction. The proposal to set aside all existing waste lauds of tbo Crown as an endowment for education, old ago pensions, aud hospi'als ho regards as a particularly absurd one, because he recognises that such lands can only be satisfactorily settled on the freehold principle and that if they wore loased the revenue procurable from them would bo but a more bagatelle of what it will bo necessary to spend on education, old ago pensions, etc. Even if the whole of such

lands were lot, there must bo large contributions from the consolidated fund for the purpose named and it would be just as well and much safer to depend upon the consolidated fund for the whole amount. The modification in the settles

ment conditions to enable town people to occupy land without residing' on it, Mr ltutherford does not at all approve, lie characterises it as “ a thoroughly rotten proposal.” The essence of success in land settlement, ho says, is that the people should reside on the land. Bos sidos, why should a town man, any more than a county man bo exempted from tho residential qualificationsAs to the proposal enabling settlers to change their 990 years leases for 66 years leases, lie says, it was silly to put that in the budget No

man would be such a fool as to surrender a 999 years lease fora 00 years one, neither arc farmers going to be such fools as to surrender old leases to have them sold at auction. The Cheviot settiers for instance, who have been getttug £5 and d£7 an acre good will ou ttootc lease in perpstoi-.y sections wouid not agree to suob a proposal. In regard to native lands, Mr Rutherford says the Government should first of all individualise till titles, and after overy native oonoarned had bom given ample land for fciiiself, the balance should be dealt with under the land far settlement scheme, a fund being provided from reoeip s to provide necessary charitable aid and old age pensions for the Maori people. As to limiting the area to ho hold by one person to £50,000 capital and unimproved yaluo Mr Rutherford is in uocord with that pan oiple, believing as he does that too years is a reasonable time to allow a m m to bring his area down !o the stipulated value. Probably at the end of the ten yoars it might bo neoessary to readjust the figures, making it, say, £20,000, and eventually a much lower sum—in fact, said Mr Rutherford, with a merry twinkle in his eye, it might bo neoessary to bring it down to three acres and a oow, and he added by way of an after-thought, 11 The Government to provide the oow.” A North Island city member, who ia a Government supporter, says he will voto against the Government every time on their land! proposals as outlined in the Budget. He is particularly dissatisfied with the policy, and especially the native land policy, foreshadowed, as he thinks it wilt have m serious efi'eot in retarding land fettlomenS in the North Island, and especially in the Auckland district.

“ lam told," he said, 11 that the Qo< vernmont will Btand or fall by the proposals,” “ I think they will fall,” replied a listener to the conversation. “ Whether they will fall or not,” replied the Liberal member, “ I oannot say, but of one thing I am oertain, they will not be able to carry such proposals through the House. There aro enough ol ue to prevent that.” Sir Joseph Ward is in receipt of a large number of telegrams congratulating him on his Budget, also anothor of cablegrams. Ono cablegram reoeived from Melbourne oontainod the message, 11 Bold und masterly ; well reported hero and roviewod.” Another message read, ''Oflanooat land proposals raskes me taka off my hat to you aud your Minister for Lsnds.” Mr Massoy, in his capacity as leader cif the Opposition, hae received a number of tclogrems from different parts of New

Zealand expressing disapproval of tbio Government's land policy. O.ie talcgcam from laveicargill, signed fcy five prominent Soulblandois, reeds: 11 Government laud policy huge mistalso; great disappointment and regret ftlt here."