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PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

The idleness of vast areas of Native land in the Waipu district was the subject of a monster petition presented to the House this w?ek by Mr W. D. S. Mar Donald. signed by 1100 townspeople. settlers, and residents of the East Coast from Hauiti as far north as Awanui. The petitioners urge that it is impossible for the Native population to utilise the great areas of unimproved land in Waipu, while the area recommended by the Native Land Commission for settlement is inadequate for the wants of the increasing European population. The petitioners urge that the Lands Committee should call for evidence during the present session as to the area of land available lying idle in the district, and make such recommendations as may be met, and that the House give effect thereto as early as possible. Referring to Mr Herdman's Civil Service Reform Bill, during the Address- in-Reply debate on Tuesday, Mr Davey supported strongly the present system, and said that if the administartion of the Civil Service was placed in the hands of commissioners beyond the control of Cabinet there was little chance of the country boy or girl getting a position in the service. "The childrenof the north," he said, "would have a very remote hope of gaining an appointment and the doors would be chiefly opened to he children of Wel-

lington." The new graduated land tax of 1907 is credited with having accomplished the object with which it was framed. Some few months ago over 70 estates of a value of £20,000 and over had keen forced by the increased graduated land tax into the market and disposed of. These are as follow: Estates of 33.222 acres, 25,751 acres, 24,130 acnes, 20,000 acres, all sold in allotments; estates of 10,0 M acres, 19, 692 acres, 15.534 acres, 9083 acres, 5256 acres, 5292 acres, 6984 acres, 5967 acres, 4 581 acres, sold to two persons, leaving the smaller portion in the hands of the original owners; an estate of 13,983 acres, all sold in allotments, leaving nothing in the hands of the original owners; an estate of 7036 cres. sold to three persons leaving 3675 acres in the hands of the original owner; large portions of estates, ranging in area from 32,291 acres and 1830 acres, sold to one person, leaving fairly large areas in the hands of the original owners; two estates of 17,594 acres and acres, sold in subdivi- | sions leaving nothing in the bands of the owner.

In those instances in which owners have parted with the whole of their lands, they are now only assessable on the unpaid balance of the purchase money owing to them by the purchasers, which is not subject to graduated land tax. Ah the Act has only been in operation two years, this result is regarded as satisfactory. It is pointed out that there was a considerable graduated tax previously, but the rates were low enough to warrant large owners in holding on; also, it is suggested they were to a large extent assisted by the low valuations placed upon their holdings; but, as the values were gradually raised to something nearer a fair selling price, it became impossible to retain these large estates. In a large number of cases it is understood, owners have called upon the Department to place the unimproved value of their lands at sums from 50 to 100 per cent, in exess of what they were formerly assessed ; consequently the tax-payer has received the benefit. As to the figures quoted above, it is urged that the land disposed of has considerably reduced the graduated tax, and tbo balance is being disposed of as opportunity offers, which at the present time is rather slow, owing to the stringency of the money market.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19091021.2.22

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 201, 21 October 1909, Page 5

Word count
Tapeke kupu
632

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 201, 21 October 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 201, 21 October 1909, Page 5

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