Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1919. THE LAND QUESTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2059, 25 November 1919, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1919. THE LAND QUESTION.

MIL HUIINBBY, the sitting member for Wairarapa, made himself very clear on the Land Question during’ an address to the electors last week. He said that for twenty years lie had- been endeavouring to induce Parliament to listen to the only plan which could hope to succeed against land aggregation and large estates. Twenty years ago lie had moved in this direction; “but," said Mr Hornsby, “1 have always found a few tight Conservatives on the Liberal side when the land question comes up for consideration. All the Conservatives are not on the Conservative side!" Years ago a progressive land tax was passed, guaranteed to ‘‘hurst up large estates and prevent aggregation." Did it Not worth a cent. Why Because the lax stopped just short of the real mark, and aggregation went on as merrily as ever. Then a law was passed a tew years ago guaranteed to stop aggregation. Did ill No, it <ll4 not. Lust session another at-

tempr was made. It would be found just about »> effectual as former'attempts. There was only one way, and that was by a statutory, limitation of area —making - it illegal to register the fee simple of more than a specified area—these areas to be so classified and fixed that none of them should afford less than a competency fo their owners if properly and efficiently .worked. The day of the large landed estate should soon he over; that was, if we were in earnest about bringing about peace, contentment, and happiness among the people. As for soldier settlement, the present -wasteful and ineffectual system should not be- permitted a day longer than was necessary to the passing of a sound law on the subject. The land-owners should be called upon, in proportion to the sizes of their holdings, to provide a percentage of land lit for soldier settlement at the Government valuation, plus 10 per cent. It they would not sell voluntarily on these terms, then they must be compelled. What would have been (Imposition suppose we had lost the war? Not an inch of their lands would now be in possession of (he present owner?;; and they themselves would have been serfs. Was it too much, then, to ask or demand T these property-owners that they should sell a portion of (heir estate on such terms us would secure to the last soldier cheap and good land on which to settle?