DEBATE IN SHANNON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 912, 1 November 1910, Page 3

DEBATE IN SHANNON.

LAURENSON LANDED

The freeholders wore a worried look at the conclusion of last evening’s debate in the Druids’ Hall, Shannon.

Mr G. Laurensou, M.P,, proposed a resolution to the effect that the time had now come when all sales by the Government of Crown Lauds should cease. He congratulated Shannon upon having the first of a series of meetings, which it was proposed to hold throughout the country upon the all important and omnipresent question of the laud. He believed that upon a question like this the platform had a distinct advantage over the press. Where, he asked, had the slavery question iin the States been settled ? Upon the public platlorm. Where were the preliminaries of practically every piece of popular progressive legislation settled all the world over ? Upon the public platform. The press might be, and in many cases certainly was, the tool of unscrupulous capitalism, used to mislead the general public, but the platform —at any rate the platform of New Zealand —had never yet descended to that depth. (Loud applause). Mr Laureusou then dealt at length with the policy and the directorate of “The Dominion,” giving the acreage and value of each man’s land and the amount of shares he held in the paper. Leaving this topic Mr Laureusou touched upon the land in relation to old age pensions, etc., drew comparisons between different countries where the leasehold and freehold tenures prevailed, and finallygave, by means of a diagram, an original and striking illustration of one of the phases of the laud question. Mr Cooper, of Pahiatua, who took the freehold side of the proposition, signally failed to convince the audience of the soundness of his alleged arguments, and the resolution in favour of leasehold was carried'(upon the show of hands) by fifty per cent, of a large and enthusiastic audience. Votes of thanks to the speakers and the chair terminated the proceedings. (By Our Special Correspondent).

At Shannon last night, a large audience, including a number of ladies, assembled at the Druids’ Hall to hear a debate on “ Leasehold v. Freehold.” Mr G. Laureuson, M.P. for Lyttelton, took the floor for leasehold, and Mr J. C. Cooper, of Pahiatua, the freehold. Mr F. W. Venn was voted to the chair, and briefly introduced the speakers, both of whom gave eloquent addresses. In opening, Mr Laureuson took off the gloves and hit the Dominion newspaper hard ; reading out the names of the twelve shareholders, and the Government valuation of their respective holdings, and accused that paper with being the mouthpiece of the Farmers’ Union. Before launch ing out on the great Land Question, Mr Laureuson touched on Socialism and State and municipal control of various matters, and eulogised three late statesmen — Richard J. Seddon, John Me Keuzie and John Ballance ; these three represented England, Scotland and Ireland. Mr Laureuson said the Laud Question had to do with every crying baby that came into this land as well as the older people. Its effect on workers and wages was, he said, very great — cheap land high wages, dear land low wages. In the proposal to sell the national lands (which he strongly opposed) he said: The area of New Zealand is 66,568,876 acres; sold under the freehold, 18,406,956 acres; granted under various Acts, 11,8.31,072; leased by the order of tenure, 17,907,940 ; Native land, 6,051,729 ; barren, roads, etc., 6,344,971 ; open for selection and undisposed of, 6,046,20S acres. The evil effect of the aggregation of freehold properties on Banks Peninsula and elsewhere received considerable comment, the speaker went on to describe the evils in Britain resulting from laud monopoly, he having seen something of these in his native Shetland Island. Contending “that the land is the property of the people,” he quoted the Bible, Oliver Cromwell. Justice O’Connor, Vogel, Stout, Atkinson, Rolliston, McNab and others. “ In England,” said Sir Henry Campbell Bauuerman, “ the pleasure grounds of the rich should be the pleasure grounds of the poor. Referring to big estates, Raugitikei came in for some strong comparisons and statistics showing something of the extent of land monopoly there. Mr j. C. Cooper, in replying

: said “ The Land Question is the : biggest in New Zealand." He i was always fighting monopolies, | and was strongly for limitation of ; area, and any form of leasehold that would give security of tenure. In his speech he did not wade inlo statistics, but endeavoured to show that the Ireehold, or security ot tenure, was an inducement for men to improve their holdings and nut iuipoverh.h them ; that impoverishment is going on now in many dairy farms, that a farmer if he be a business man, will take out as much as he cau from the land and put little back on it. In an interesting manner he gave some of his experiences and hardships as a back-blocks settler, how he hewed out a freehold home in the midst of bad burns, no roads, bush fires, taxation, and other difficulties.

After dwelling upon the limitation of area he compared the freehold that fosters manly selfreliance with leaseholds that produces toadyism. At the close of Mr Cooper’s address, Mr Laurenson replied. On a vote being taken 30 favoured the freehold, and 45 the leasehold.

A vote of thanks to the speakers, and also to the chair terminated a very interesting and instructive debate. Over 200 were present.