REFORM AT FRANKLIN.

Shannon News, 2 June 1925, Page 2

REFORM AT FRANKLIN.

REPLY TO LABOUR’S LAND POLICY. f AUCKLANb. Last Night. _ Mr McLennan, Government candidate. for the Franklin seat .opened his campaign at Papakura to-night. He said he felt honoured at being asked to contest the seat. He felt he could not hope to emulate the great deeds of his distinguished predecessor, but he would do his best in the interests of all sections of the community. He criticised the exposition of the Labour land policy by Mr Montgomerie, the Labour candidate, saying he did not know what “usehold” tenure meant, and he believed Mr Montgomerie didn’t either.. Did Mr Montgomerie expect farmers to throw themselves, body and soul, into the hands of the State purchase official, who would be the sole buyer of land under the scheme, and whose price they would be compelled to take? The Labour party was prepared to take land at its own price, and this meant confiscation, or as they termed it, nationalisation. He wanted to know if all unearned increment went to the State, would Labour be prepared to recoup speculators for the ruinous losses they had made in the slump by buying land in excess of its value? He considered that, seeing the heavy burdens borne by the land at present in rates and taxes, the owner was certainly entitled to keep his freehold. Trade figures disproved that the country was going to rack and ruin through the Reform administration. Mr V. H. Potter, M.P., also addressed the meeting. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks. *