THE LAND PROPOSALS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 246, 23 November 1909, Page 2

THE LAND PROPOSALS.

VICOKOUS PROTESTS BY LEASEHOLDERS. OBLITERATING PARTY LINES. By Telegrajh—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Over a thousand leaseholders and sympathisers met in the Town Ilall tonight to protest against the Government's land proposals. Mr. W. T. Noot (president of the Wellington Trades and Labor Council) occupied the chair. He explained that the council had called the meeting. Mr. D. McLaren, ALL'., said the people should be consulted on this most important question. The Budget bad never been before the people. The Government was in a tight position financially, and thought it easier to sell the country's lands than face the position. He moved: " That before any legislation is passed sacrificing the people's interest in the leasehold' over exising Crown lands', or in lands settled under the Lands 'or Settlement Act, and before any more of the puHilicly-owncil land is sold, all the people of the dominion should have an opportunity of saying by means of rcfeiendum vote whether (hey are willing that the proposals now before Parliament shall become law, or whether all existing Crown land shall remain the property of the people and be dealt with under the leasehold system, so that future increases' in rental value shall be available for reduction of the burdens of taxation. This meeting further holds that to change the existing lenses into freehold would create a privilege wliicli is not in. the covenant entered into by lessees, and would give to such lessees a decidedly unjust advantage over a'l other applicants for such land by excluding the element of competition, whereby the real value of land can only be arrived at."

Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.P.. declared the Government's land policy to be absolutely dishonest. Every member of the Ministry which proposed it had a right to be brought before the Supreme Court. The next thing would be the disposal of tho national endowment.

Mr. T. E. Taylor, ir.l\. said gambling liad been allowed to gn on in Stateowned farms, which Imd cri'iitod a elass of rack-rented tenants. Tf there was any gambling to lie done liy the re-sale of farms, the State should'got thehenetit. He protested against the sale of a single acre of Crown lands. The land proposals of the Budget really obliterated party lines'. The motion was carried, with bnt two dissentients.