THE LAND BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2056, 29 April 1907, Page 3

THE LAND BILL.

MR MASSEY AT HAMILTON

As a result of the recent visit of Mr.’ R. R. Martin, organiser of the Political Reform League to the Waikato. a crowded 'meetiug of supporters of the Opposition party was held in the Hamilton Town Hall on April 22nd, when addresses were delivered by Mr. W. F. Massey, M.H.R. (Leader of the Opposition), and Mr. F, AV. Lang, M.H.R. for Manakau. Mr J. S. Bond (Mayor of Hamilton) occupied the cliair. Mr. Massey, referring to the bawl Bill, said that security of tenure was absolutely necessary for successful settlement.

AN INCENTIVE WAS ESSENTIAL in settlement, and the strongest incentive was the possibility of acquiring the freehold. (Applause.) A community of freeholders was moie valuable to a country than one of leaseholders. They were more- industrious and produced more. In order to settle the second and third class lands, in his opinion, it would be worth while to re-enact th«* old Homestead Act. Tlie Government proposals would neither encourage settlers nor stimulate settlement, llu pointed out the methods adopted by the Queensland, Canadian, -and other Governments to attract holla fide settlers to take up unoccupied lands under easy terms, and deplored the tendency manifesting itself in New Zealand to discourage settlement, and to send prospective settlers out of the country. In regard to LIMITING PRIVATE OWNERSHIP of land, Mr. Massey said that the Government’s proposals continued to give opportunities to the man with

capital, but .notTcT the man who had "limited "moans, tho latter having to take iqi the 66 years’ lease, starting as a tenant, and remaining a tenant to the end of his days, working and struggling on, without the slightest prospect of independence. (Applause*.) lie did not object to limitation so long as it was moderate and reasonable, and not against the interests of the colony. Discrimination should he shown between the man who properly used liis land, and the man who held it for speculative purposes only. (Applause.) AA’liat was the use. he asked, of submitting limitation proposals over private land when there were from 6,000,000 t 05.000,000 acres of native land lying idle and overgrown with weeds, together with 17,000,000 of acres of Crown lauds, | about 3,000,000 of which was fit for ! occupation? The Government should settle the waste lands, native lands, j and Crown lands, before talking of limiting private ownership. The land remained idle, and the people were also idle. As A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM lie agreed' with the recommendation of the Commission to individualise the titles, no matter at what cost, and give every family their own piece of laud to cultivate, and make any surplus, under the supervision of a native trustee, available for European settlement, the trustee to see that tho natives get fair value for their land and did not squander the capital. (Applause.) He did not object to endowments, hut he did pretest against the romainig Crown lands being locked up against settlement, and the option of pureha.se entirely withdrawn.

Air. Lang said that tile impression throughout the colony was that Ihe hill would he dropped. Mr. Carroll, speaking at Gisborne, had

GIV.rcN.TJiE SHOW AWAY. Me quoted from speeches by Mr. Hall Jones, ibr. Findlay, and Messrs M Nab and Millar, .showing bow the freehold was attacked. It was impossible for members to support both (be Government and the Hill. Under the bill freehold would be available t) only a few wealthy men. The lessee in perpetuity should have the option of taking up the freehold. Instead of the Government retaining 10 per cent., the settlers should he given the straight out freehold. Several questions having been asked and replied to. Air. A. Furze moved : That this meeting strongly protests against the proposed land legislation of the present Government. and that no Land Bill will he accepted which does not provide for the optional tenure.

Air. H. Roach seconded, and the motion was carried. Cheers given for Air. Massey and the Opposition warty brought the meeting to a close.