A VIVID CONTRAST

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1929, Page 3

A VIVID CONTRAST

, ! THE LAND POLICIES, j liMJ- | THE FORWARD MOVE.^jj : - WELLINGTON, July 17 ’ ’ Thirty years ago, according to Hr J. A.|i Macpherson (Oamaru), iNow 'Zealand was in ■a'lsimilar position in regard to land settlement as to-day. There'was a dearth of land, he told the House, last night, but the Libera.!

•Government of that day took the ma ster tip; and; • througji the splendid el', forts-of- Mr Seddon, Sir Joseph AV*i"U and the late Sir John M’Kenzie. they accomplished such wonders that New Zealand was-placed~ oti 'the 'map lor all time. To-day, there was just the same necessity for a„ closer seC. tleinent policy. He was interested to find in the 1928 Land Statement that the Reform Government claimed .tLui during the year over 40,(XX) acres h.id been selected. The report did not sav * ‘settled’?' .-.rand 'vfor • good - reason, because’ the figures included gravel pits leased jtotcOuiity councils, as was doriv year after year, and the bulk of tie remainder was the renewal of gradng run leases to old tenants. Special men tion was made of three sections taken up- at- Clifden, Otago, but the report did--not'mention that these had been on the- market for years and v/-?re written down to a low price. Gnat, areas of small grazing runs were renewed to the old lessees for thirty years at the present or lower rentals, though he knew many valuable runs which, if put up for public compc" - tion, would have fetched five times the rental. One ho had in mind was a fine property, carrying 14,000 sheep leased to the old tenant for £240 per annum before anybody knew about lit- .<v\ A Mr Coates: What case was. that 2 replied, that he wo if Id be pleased to give every deincluding the number of the 'block, privately, hut he did not w>sh to irag in the name of the ten:irv\ for '*■the whole blame rested, not op individuals, but on the legislation o! Government and edmirmtrati'dn, which allowed them to take advantage of it. Miy,Coates: The Land Board agree.:. Mr Macpherson repeated that it w.ithe law, and when people realised what, had been done under that legislation in Otago and Canterbmy, and the North Island, they would get a surprise.