The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY. OCTOBER 11th, 1923. LAND TENURE.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY. OCTOBER 11th, 1923. LAND TENURE.

In a recent speech at Timaru, Mr Rolleston, M.P. (who is proving .something of a political free lance) stood up for leasehold tenure, and opposed the sale of the National Endowment land. In noting this attitude, a Christchurch paper remarked that Mr R-olles-ton was following in the footsteps of his father, who placed on the Sr Book the perpetual lease. yjj 6 j Ute

Hon. Wm. Bolleston was a man o l ' broad view, and on tile land question a genuine Liberal. Under his method a block of Government land to fco settled was divided into three parts —a third for sale to cash buyers, u third fur deferred payment selectors, and a third for perpetual lease. The leaseholder got his land for 21 years. At the end of the term it was revalued, and the settler had the tight to take it for another 21 years at the new valuation. If ho declined, he could goon from year to year until a man came along who would give the now rental. His intetests were, protected. That system .succeeded admirably. It enabled men with little capital to get a start as settlers, and most of them did well. But tlie Tory element, headed hv Mr Srobio M’Tvenzie, M.H.11. for Mount Ida. smashed it by granting the freehold. Thus Mr Bolleston had the agony of seeing otic* of his cherished land settlement ideals destroyed by his own party. That was in 1892. Ten years afterwards John M’Kenzio canto along with ttis 999 years’ lease- a bastard term of freehold —which was strongly opposed by tt number c.t Radical Liberals, who wanted periodical revaluation of the leases. History repeated itself, and in due course* the Reformers granted tin* freehold of the leased lands. Now there is an optional system under which the selector van buy for cash, or take up land with right of purchase or for renewable lease for 00 years, it nil depends, however, on the sections that are offered. Under M’Kenzie the whole of the land-for-settlenient sections were leasehold. That system had many advantages. The Pettier merely paid lialf-a-yearks rent and the survey lees and took possession. Mhich meant that practically all the money he had or could get could lie used in buildings, implements and stock. ( nder it thousands of men got a start who otherwise could not have done so. and on the whole they did well. Cheviot, Waikaknhi, Gionmatk and many other big successes were settled in this fashion. But the greatest advantage was that, at any rate in the early stages, this leasehold land was not easily disposed of. It was held by the men that took it up. A large number of tho Cheviot sections are still leasehold and held by tho original selectors. Another point was that a great body of leasehold land, owned by the State, steadied land values. There was not the inflation of values there is to-day. And this inflation of land values is the curse of New Zealand at present. There is a good (leal to he said for a leasehold policy. Inn whether any strong political ' ~‘7 will attempt to reintroduce it. H fettle experience over Holiest on s and M'Kenzie’s systems is a question. History goes to show that after men get on the land as leaseholders under Liherals they turn over to Reform to got the freehold. It is human nature, and Hnllcston Secundus must hear that- in mind. He is quite right, however, ov**r the >7OllOlOll Kndovhment lands. It is a" sin against posterity that they should be -eld.

Thf. Hospital Board has decided to go on with the work of erecting an Old Peoples’ Home* adjacent to Westland Hospital. This step should eventually I** a considerable saving in the cost ol upkeep, while at the same time supplying the inmates with very comfortable surroundings, and Wing immediately adjacent to an institution whete the best medical aid and comfort will he obtainable at a moment’s notice. Apart from the economy of the proposal, the latter advantage is at once appealing. Rut in the matter of economy, there will he a material saving by managing the Home as a branch of the major institution now being so well found in all modern requirements. There "ill l>o a. material saving in many directions. affecting fuel, light, supplies, staff, and general attention. The conditions for the old people should lie improved in every way. The location is a healthy one, the outlook all that could he desired, and the situation quite companionable for the old people. The whole scheme affecting the rebuilding of the local hospital and its surroundings is perhaps not, realised generally by the community. It is an extensive one. far more, than is conceived generally, hut the improvements will add greatly to its value and to its power for good. It is fortunate in tlic circumstances that the Old Peoples Home for Westland is to he situated in such satisfactory surroundings.

Tim local Automobile Association which put, in an objection to the County motor licensing by-law this week, did so on peculiar grounds. One was that the roads were bad! It would appear that that was precisely the reason the local body required more revenue, to cope with the traflie doing the dailige. Indeed, when the matter was discussed formerly with members of the Association, the point was advanced ii the local body procured the machinery to improve the roads, the tax would not lie objectionable. The local body lias carried out its part of tip. bargain In oidoring machinery to the value of £"2.•100, but. a percentage of the inotoii-ts now wish to draw back, and threaten to refuse to pay. They not only misled the Council, but they desire tc throw entirely on the ratepayers the cost, ol the upkeep of the roads, so that their action is doubly unfair. In connection with this matter it is amusing in the circumstances to note that several ratepayers are protesting against the tax. though it is designed to give them relief and help pass some of the burden of road maintenance on the users of the roads doing the greatest proportion of damage. Not only are they objecting but they are reinforcing the opposition of those, who by escaping the tax, will be relieved the most, and the ratepayers will have to go on paying not only the cost of repairs, but also the full cost of the plant, and machinery to do the work. . Instead ot relief to the rtepayers, the local body will then have to increase the rating taxation.

A found view of the possibilities of Imperial economic co-operation is taken by the writer of some notes on the subject in the “Monthly Review” issued by Barclay’s Bank. He sets due emphasis on the fact that apart from its immediate results, well-directed enterprise and trade expansion within the Empire may in an important degree facilitate the revival and readjustment of international trade. The possibilities of expansion m this direction, he observes, are increased by Britain’s obligations to America. The effect of the Fordney Tariff must be to compel Britain to Eeek new sources of supply of foodstuffs and raw materials. “The difficulty of discharging our debt by the direct export of manu-

facturcd goods to Amci-icn," the financial writer adds, “is obviously increased by tbe tariff. The natural solution would be to increase our exports to the dominions, in return for which rnerchndisae which America cannot produce for herself would lie available for shipment, and would supply the exchange needed for debt payments.’’ The point is here clearly brought out and developed that sound enterprise in forwarding development and building up trade within the Empire, far from impeding Britain's efforts to regain her former position in the world trade, will greatly assist her progress in that direction. This rational statement of the position and outlook is all the more to he welcomed since it is in obvious contrast to the views too commonly held and expressed by British financial and commercial authorities.