THE LAND PROPOSALS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1852, 5 September 1906, Page 2

THE LAND PROPOSALS.

THE FARMERS’ PROTEST. 1 IiRTTI CAPITULATION TO SOCIALISTS.

PRESS ASSOCIATION Wellington, la«t night. Tho Colonial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to day considered the Government land proposals, wbob came within the scope of a remit from Taranaki, “ that the agitation for the option of the freehold be prosecuted with the utmost vigor.” The mover, Mr Forsyth, said that considering what was taking place, the conference should reaffirm this principle. Tbe Land Commission had reported in favor of the optional system, and at the general eleotion a majority of members returned (and therefore a majority of voters) were in favor of it. It waß a oase for rule by the majority, and not by a noisy minority of Socialists. The Government proposal would suit hardly anyone but Socialists. (A member : It won’t suit them either) Taranaki had been settled on the optional system, and they had been successful. These settlers’ holdings were small, but there was content except with regard to the West Coast native lands. These Taranaki freehold lections showed great permanent improvements as compared with the native leases.

Mr McQaeen (Otago) seconded the motion. The tenure, he said, that would make the beßt farmer and get the most out of the land was the freehold. The leasehold with option of purchase could be used in just she same way as the freehold, and by it tbe farmer could become independent of the landlord and his agent, the ranger. If we deoiared that no more freehold were to be given—that was a notice to desirable people in older countries not to corns here, Laok of option to purchase meant higher interest on advances. The number of lessees was enormously increasing, and if the proposed Act was passed to-day it would eventually be repealed by these increasing interests. .. Mr Leadley (AshburtoTi) supported tbe motion. He was, he said, the son of a Yorkshire tenant farmer, who many years ago went in among the tussock and cabbage trees of Canterbury Fiains. Their first location was 20 miles from anywhere, and for a great portion cf his life he had lived on the frontier of settlement. Everyone owes his existence primarily to the cultivation of the land, and the men best qualified to speak of tenure were tbe men on the land. He thought Government’s suggestions were badly thought out. The 999 years’ lease had been a God send to a certain class of men, being in many cases better than freehold, paying 15d to 18d an acre for land worth £9 to £lO an aore, Would they be likely to surrender this for a 66 years’ lease with revaluation, or with paltry compensation for improvements ? The proposals were no doubt iu the disoassion stage yet, but farmers should speak with no uncertain sound with regard to the freehold. He felt there was some need to provide for the growing needs of the community in some way other than taxation, and he did not think that the proposed cessation of the sale of Crown land was open to any serious objection. Excessive taxation, whioh was growing, would be more likely to deter immigration than would the making of large land reserves for charitable aid, old age pensions, and hospitals. He was not averse to Ministers' proposals in this direction, but did not think it should be so sweeping as to inolude all Crown lands. The difference between freeholder and leaseholder was that though both desired to get the most off the land, the latter desired to put baok as little as possible.

Mr W. Lissant Olayton (Poverty Bay) said he thought townspeople were under tbe mistaken impression that lessees wete trying to rob them, To give the freehold of the email grazfog runs (shoit term) at the original valuation would be wrong, but in oase of the 999 years' lease, the State had already surrendered the increment. The desire for the freehold was shown by the greater number of applications for O.R.P. than for L.I P. leases.

Mr Phillips (Auckland) contended that the freehold agitation was based on national interests. He emphasised the superiority of freeholders’ improvements, Mr Middleton (Auok'aad) expressed great surprise at the Government’s proposals in view of the result of the election and the spocohes of the present Premier, who in a great speech at Winton at last elections expressed himself as a staunch believer in the freehold and in the syetem of option of right of purchase for Crown tenants except tenants under tho Lauda for Settlement Aot. He wss surprised at these proposals emanating from a freehold Minister for Lands.

Mr Cooper (Wellington) said ho had boon a settler foi 15 yoais. When he sold his holding it- was valued by the Government valuer at half what he received f iiit, and he sold it as much below what he would have got had the laud been freehold

Toe President said that the efifeot of the Government’s proposals was not to simplify the land tenure, but to multiply and mystify them. They were an absolute oapitulation to the Socialist clement (Applause) The motion was carried unanimously,