GOVERNMENT LAND PROPOSALS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2135, 18 July 1907, Page 2

GOVERNMENT LAND PROPOSALS.

THE RECENT BACK-DOWN. KEELING IN THE LOBBIES. INTERVIEW WITH MR. McNAB. (Special to Times.) _ WELLINGTON, last night. Tlio back-down of the Government on the question of land policy continues to bo the all-absorbing topic of conversation amongst members, and quite overshadows the other important proposals in the Budget, no iar, members have scarcely considered the tariff proposals, though omplaints are already to be heard in regard to particular items, such as oe.iefiting rich people by allowing .noLor cars to come in absolutely tree autv. The proposals regarding rhu graduated land tax are decidedly unsatisfactory to a large number oi Government supporters, and even tile Jpiiosition agrees that there is not much in them. It is pointed out in this connection that the large h*- 11 "- holders will gain about as much by che abolition of the sheep tax as they will lose by the increase m the graduated laud tax. In regard to the financial portion of the Budget it is Generally admitted that Sir Joseph Ward’s statement is more lucid than those of his predecessor in office, ana that in regard to finance at all events he is proceeding on sound lines, in a direction that will improve our credit on the London market.

STATEMENT BY MR. McNAB. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE. The Minister for Lands, with wlwm I had a short interview, maintains that the Government have not departed to any material extent from the position taken up by them m their Bill of last year. He said that the option of the freehold was given hi last year’s Bill to all those taking up ordinary Crown lands (the endowments being excepted), it being, however, then provided that any tenant desiring to acquire the freehold of his holding should take his chance of getting it by competing for it- at public auction. Now, howover, Mr. McNab said, it was proposed to allow each tenant who desired it to acquire the freehold of lus lease on the basis of the present-day valuation, the price to be fixed by arbitration. That was the only difference between the two proposals. The endowments, he added, .were of course still unaffected by this option of the freehold.

“But tho area of endowments is considerably reduced as compared with the amended form of last year’s Bill?” Mr. McNab was asked.

“That is so,” admitted the Minister. “We now propose to set aside nine million acres, and to-the extent t-liat last year’s area exceeds these nine million acres the endowment proposals have, of course, been altered.”

The Minister’s attention was drawn to the fact of the nine million apres of proposed endowments nearly eight million acres -were in the South Island, and only slightly over one million acres in the North Island.

“That is so,” replied Mr. McNab, “but it is simply the result of au ordinary sum of proportion. Each district’s share is according to its proportion of 16 or 17 million acres of remaining Crown lands. I have always said that the larger areas of Crown lands were in the South Is-, land but I have never been believed, although I have quoted, figures to prove my assertion.” “How-will the endowment areas oe selected?” “A certain amount of all classes of land will be selected in each district. There will not,” the Minister added, “bo anv picking out of land for the endowments. My Department is in a position, if the House wishes it, to set out the particular blocks in each district to be reserved. This can be done if necessary before the Bill is passed.”

The Minister stated in reply to another question, that the proposed concession in regard to freehold applied only to the holders of ordinary Crown land leases, and not to land for settlements leases. The proposal was, lie said, that onh lessees-in-.

perpetuity of ordinarv Crown lands dial] be allowed the option of acquiring £bo freehold. Those who have taken up land for settlements lands will he enabled to pay off 90 per cent, of the capital values of their holdings.' as was proposed under the Bill brought down last year. The optional proposals do not apply to mining leases or grazing run or land for settlements settlers.

It is pointed out by many members on both sides of the House that the position of the Government in giving tho freehold to one set of Crown tenants and not to another is quite illogical, and that the refusal to give the option to land for settlements settlers will only cause further trouble for the Government.

CONGRATULATIONS FOR AIR AIASSEY.

It is being mentioned in tlie lobby to-day that the lease tenure in the new Land Bill will be reduced to thirty-three years. Apparently the Government supporters in country as well as in Parliament are surprised at the change in the Government’s land policy. The first telegram Air. Alassey opened this morning was from a member of the Liberal and Labor Federation, hitherto a strong supported of the present administration. The message- contained only two words, but they were sufficiently expressive. Thev were. “Cowardly Government.” The Leader of tlie Opposition has received quite a number of telegrams congratulating him on the freehold victory.