THE FREEHOLD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 926, 3 December 1910, Page 3

THE FREEHOLD.

MR HOGG PROTESTS. GOVERNMENT SHOWS ITS HAND. WELLINGTON, Dec. 2. Tho House mot at, 11. The second reading was moved of the Fruit, Farms Settlement Bill, tho object of which is to enable the Government, to lease farms of 20 to 30 acres at Wairauga, which is now ready for being thrown open. If the Bill is not passed this session Government will have jo maintain tho farms. Mr Massey said the farms were not likely to pay the settlers, and as there were indications of coal deposits there he hoped tho Government would have leds made. Mr Hogg said the Bill was freehold, and contained no provision against aggregation. Hon. T. Duncan and Messrs Poole and La wry supported the Bill. The latter predicted tho fruit farms settlement would bo an unqualified success. Hon. T. Mackenzie said aggregation was not intended, as tho Bill provided that tho allotments should not exceed 75 acres. Tho land v.as practically worthless, but would allow of people with a knowledge of gardening making a living on small holdings. Regarding tho coal deposit, he said ho would sooner see people working on tho surface than in tho bowels of the earth. Tho Bill was committed. At Clause* 2, providing that the land may bo set apart for fruit farms and loused or otherwise disposed of, Mr Hogg moved to delete the latter words, the object being to proveift alienation. Tho amendment was rejected by 43 to 12.

Air Hogg said if the freehold was given to fruit farms settlers it could no longer be withheld from Grown tenants. The Government had shown its hand freely in this Bill, and ho had no further confidence in its'land policy. The Bill was reported and passed all stages.