THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. THURSDAY, DEC. 9, 1909 LAND LEGISLATION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 215, 9 December 1909, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. THURSDAY, DEC. 9, 1909 LAND LEGISLATION.

THE Land .Bill introduced by the Government is meeting with determined opposition on the part of the leasehold section of the Government supporters, and the granting of the freehold on lines suggested by the Prime Minister in the Budget is to be strenuously opposed. However, the freehold feeling "in the House predominates, and the Bill is in no danger, notwithstanding the leasehold agitation. There is a growing feeling however, that the Bill will not pans into law this session and we may have the experience repeated of a land bill hung up from session to session. If such delay does occur there will doubtless be a period of agitation throughout the different centres in which the impassioned rhetoric of the leasehold advocate will be heard denouncing the Bill as a thing calculated to rob the people of their heritage. The land question in any country is undoubtedly one of the greatest issues with which a Government has to deal, and unfortunately it is a question over which the interests and leanings of townspeople,and the interests of the people who make their living on the land come into direct conflict. Obviously such a problem should only be approached with the utmost caution, and any change or reform, unless in the existence of an abuse, should manifestly be inaugurated with extreme < caro. Change does not necessarily mean reform notwithstanding the fact < that 3 certain section of the people strenuously hold that the change from freehold to leasehold would be the 1 greatest reform of the age. The ad- ] vocates of the freehold on the other < hand are fully convinced of the 1 strength of their own arguments and ' are prepared to contest the issue to the bitter end. The experience of past years in New Zealand leaves the ques- . tion very much as it was when the , agitation commenced, and the battle ! ! continues to be waged in every i'arlia- ' ment. The Prime Minister in introducing the present Rill was apparent];.' 1 animated by a sweet reasonableness 1 , and a dc-;'naintiiin n.' • i. nr.-: -.v..-]; : .-if-:- . ...■ ■ mi r ■■ ::>=j v. i : ! i i rr.f.-I >;i.. >L'- : .■■■;• ! a admiral/v. T?v- ~.*!♦ "-rr-.i .-•r.d'fV.- r, j t

are to be presented, while the freehold on reasonable terms ig to be granted to those who desire it. Limitation of area is to be strictly enforced, and this, together v.*ith taxation, and the powers conferred by the Lands for Settlement Act, surely constitute sucient safeguards against capitalists being allowed to exploit the public estate. Everything considered the land proposals as defined by the Prime Minister give evidence cf statesmanlike comprehension of the position and a desire to act for the public good irrespective of the clamourings of any Fection of extremists.