THE LAND COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 782, 28 March 1905, Page 2

THE LAND COMMISSION.

(Per Press Association.*, DIINEDIN. .March 27. The Lund Coimnissioii sut in DunOdin this morning, and took the evidence of Mr .John Askew Stott, of tho. Otago Liberal and Representative Organised Workers.* Witness said he had been appointed to give evidence on 'he-hull of tbe Otngo Trades and Labour Council and Affiliated I'nions. Speaking generally, the Council was against the Crown granting the freehold, firstly beuaus;. they considered it opposed to the public policy, and secondly, because they considered, it a breach of faith with the State. Thev looked upon tho lands of the colony nx being the family estate of New Zealand, and felt that the Crown was exercising its functions when i(, acted as trustee of that estate. The sale of Crown land and lund acquired by the Crown should be stopped, and in (he future ail land owned or administered by the Crown should Ik- leased at a fair rental and made subject to periodical valuation. The workers were opposed to uny extension of the freehold on the ground that tho freehold and the landlord system was one great bar to the progress of the mass of the people, and one of the great factors which kept them from reaping the full benefit of the progressive legislation that hud been passed oi their behalf.