THE LAMP BILL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 26, 19 April 1907, Page 2

THE LAMP BILL.

Opposition Campaign. The campaign inaugurated by (lie New Zealand Farmers' Union in opposition !o the Government Land Bill was opened in (lie King Country on Tuesday evening, last, when Captain Allen Bell delivered an address in Mr E. Kerr's billiard-room, Te Kuiti. IVlr J. Ormsby was voted to the chair, and there was a large attendance of settlers. In his opening remarks the speaker said he did not. come as the emissary of any political organisation, but simply for the purpose of explaining the Land Bill from the farmer's point of view. lie expressed regret thai Mr MeNab had not visited Te Kuiti and given those present the opportunity of hearing both sides of the question. There was no fioubt the proposed Hill contained dangerous socialistie proposals and if the farmers of the colony allowed Ihcm to be. carried, they would be a disgrace to tlie women who bore them. The present was a critical time in the history of (lie colony. The farmers and country people generally had been too apathetic, and the time had arrived to take off the gloves. In dealing' with the endowment proposal the speakereharaeteriscd itasa means by which the Ciovermnent hoped to appeal to the sympathy of the people, but it was simply pandering; to the land nationalise!" and socialistic agitator. The amount expected to be realised from the endowments was, on the M mister's own showing, totally inadequate to provide for old age pensions, education and charitable aid, and would never gei any nearer, as the demand lor these purposes would rise more rapidly in proportion than the value of the endowments. The best system to provide for these matters was that at present in force. The Government was returned at last election pledged to support the optional tenure, and in the face of that this Bill was promoted. In dealing, with the clause giving the right to leaseholders to acquire the freehold, the s]leaker characterised it as misleading", Thirty per cent, of the leaseholds had already changed hands and a goodwill had been paid. The farmer had had to pay the Government value on the land, which was afterwards to be put up to public auction and compcled for by everyone who came along". The impossibility of the leaseholder financing on his holding was al.--<i pointed out ami a comparison drawn between the man who had a freehold or o.r.p. title. Tin- colony was cry in;; out for greater popida.'ion, and events wee happening in the world which called lor the country being' populated and placed in a posiof strong defence. The effect of the. Land Hill proposals would be to stop immigratii m, and drive out y< Ming' men to countries which oHe red greater attractions for settlement. Mr MeNab had stated that the .freehold tenure was not endangered by the Hill, but that statement was controverted in every way by the provisions of the Bill itself. I he. ninety per cent, clause affecting the Li.p. holder:; was also touched on by the speaker, who said that the ninety percent, was. to all intents and puj-pos.es, a loan to the Government to enable them to purchase more lands for settlement. With reference to the limitation clauses, everyone would agree that the curtailing; of large areas was desirable, but the speaker maintained that there, was already sulllcient machinery at the disposal of the Government to make the new 1 proposal unnecessary. There were other matters m connection with this clause which were unjust. The large holder was forced to dispose of his land lor cash and could not take a mortgage. If he did it would be impossible for him to foreclose in ease of default by the mortgagor. I his clause also affected the banks and other financial institutions which often held securities above the £15,000 limit. Thus the interest rates would be increased and there would be a lowering of land value:-; ali round. The speaker urged those present to oppose the Bill strenuously. p At the conclusion of the address the following motion was proposed by Mr J. T. Mete! and seconded by Mr f<". R. Gibson: " Tha*? I '(his meeting wholly disapproves of (lie laud proposals of the Government, and pledg.es itself to do everything in its power to prevent the proposed land bill being, placed on the Statute Hook." Upon being put to the meeting the motion was carried unanimously.