LABOUR’S POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1928, Page 6

LABOUR’S POLICY

MR HOLLAND’S' ADDRESS

STATE TO CLIeAR RUSH

(Per Press Association—By Electric Tel egr ap 1 1 —Copy r i gh t).

WESTPORT, October 16

A special feature of Mr H. E. Holland’s address here this, evening was his detailed statement of the Labour Party’s land policy. Mr Holland said that they Would aim at breaking up the larger estates, and would employ two methods to that end. Firstly, the land tax would be far more steeply graded against the large estates than was now the case; and, secondly, a Labour Government would take the power to acquire, either the whole or any portion of the larger estates for closer' settlement. Wherever possible, the land would he acquired on the basis of purchase by negotiation. Where, however, this was not possible, the compulsory clauses of the existing legislation would be put into operation. The valuation of the properties so acquired would be determined by the Valuer-General in the usual way; hut the interests of the owners would be safeguarded by rights of appeal. As explained by Jiim at Masterton, the land so resumed wo" lr be settled on tlie leasehold tenure, with the perpetual right of renewal, thus guaranteeing the permanency of occupation. There would be periodic revalutions, and the tenant’s absolute right to value of his improvements would be provided for.

STATE TO CLEAR FOREST LANDS. Where heavily-timbered lands were found to be suitable for agricultural an'd pastoral settlement, said Mr Holland, the state would under a Labour Government, undertake the work of clearing those areas, so that the farmer would be in the position to enter upon the work of' production immediately. In the process of clearing, wherever the timber could be economically milled, this would he done, and the timber values would then be conserved to the State, instead ot them being destroyed by fire as was, necessarily, often the case now. in many cases, said Mr Holland, it would be possible to make the timber miller assist in, paying for‘the clearing of the bush land.

They would lay. it down as a foundation principle that, ih every case where a new district was to be secured, the main road to the settlement must be formed, and the streams bridged by the date that the settlers entered into 'occupation. They regarded as not economical the , method of placing families on the land and then leaving them there without access to the markets to which they stood in the relation of both purchasers; and suppliers. • Intensive farming would also be helped and encouraged. The resources of the State would he utilised to make possible the application of the most scientific methods, and the marketing of fertilisers be organised so as to ensure adequate supplies' to 'the' primary producers at the lowest possible cost. Furthermore, the -State would give the maximum of assistance to organisation of tli-e farmers for co-operative production, purchasing, shipping, marketing and credit.

The existing tenures, said Mr Holland. would not be interfered with. Labour Party’s, land platform declared for the full recognition of the owners’ interest in all land, including tenure,' right of sale, transfer, and bequest, hut they stood for the if.un-da-me nto I principle of occupancy and use. The Labour . Party, he said, had nothing whatever to offer to the speculator ancl the gambler in land values. They would make it a condition that whoever desired to hold land in New Zealand must occupy and use the land. ■He then proceeded to deal with rural credits and with state and agricultural banking.