MR. MASSEY AND THE LAND BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 8 April 1907, Page 2

MR. MASSEY AND THE LAND BILL.

Mr Massey, in his address at Whangarci tlw other evening had something interesting to say of the Land Bill., lie thought the huge majority of people were of opinion that without security of tenure successful .settlement would be impossible. What induced settlers to go to the back-block sections* Mas it the hope of independence, and the prospect of saying "This land is mine ami 110 power on earth can dispossess nic»" If they were robbed of that prospect, any Settlement worthy of the name would be taken away. A community of freeholders were likely to fight better for heir own houses than they would for boardmghouses. Most of the best laud of the colony had been taken up, and if what remained was to be fettled more inducement must be offered. Although Mr McXab said that 110 rent would be asked from the settler on certain lands for five, ten or fifteen years, aceonling to the class of land, there was nothing to prevent the Government demanding more rent or forfeiture at the end of any of those periods. t T nder the exigencies of the Bill, the man with monev could always obtain the freehold, hut the poor man would be barred. He I would start as a tenant, anil remain a tenant to the end of his days. No discrimination was made between the mall who put his land to good use and the man who held it for speculative purposes. fhe Bi'l prov'ded a gross anomaly by interfering with the European and leaving unoccupied native lands untouched. Nothing would do the country so much good as the settlement of native lands and the employment of m " ti\e people. If the Bill became law, all the moneylenders would increase fhe rate of interest, as the security, beiii" only leasehold, would not he nearly so good as at present, The revaluation proposal in its present form was a cunning trick 'to confiscate the improvements of the settler, ami to keep him on Crown land. Injury had already been done to the colony by the Government's proposals, and many authentic instances could be given of 'outsiders deciding to keep away from the country where such a Land Act was possible. 'The Government's expressed intention of keeping the land reminded him of the time when ■Joseph, the Egyptian Treasurer, bought up all the corn, and sold it to tlie hungry people in exchange for their land. Joseph ruined Egypt, and E?ypt had not recovered to this day. Even the pea-> sants of Russia were asking for free-/ hold. He believed that the re-enact-ment of the old Homestead Act, if made applicable to the second and third class land of this colony, vi'ouJd be beneficial. Mr McNab knew nothing about the laud question when he first 'took office. He (Mr Massey) would make it a condition of that ollice that the occupant must first go on a bush section and make his own living there for three years. Supposing the Bill became law, nothing could prevent succeeding Governments from increasing the values and rentals. One anomaly of the Bill was that a tenant witii a (iti years' elase would pay 10 per cent more that a limn with a 099 yeai%' lease, although their sections might be adjoining. It .seemed 'that tlie colony was receiving its policy from the Fabian Club, the centre of Socialism.' The country was being asked to place its neck uniler the foot of the singletaxer and Socialist, who had combined temporarily to prevent an increase of the freehold. lie wanted to get rid of the present state of tenantry. There was 110 country where tiie leasehold had been a success. |