LAND LAWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1920, Page 5

LAND LAWS.

| THE FREEHOLD PRINCIPLE. GOVERNMENT ATTACKED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Niglit. In the House of Representatives this the Land Laws Amendment Bill was'reported from the Lands Committee with amendments. •Mr. G. Witty (Riecarton), speakiug to the report, said the Government would have effected a great saving in paper if they had brought down a Bill of one clause giving everybody the freehold who desired it. At one time .Crown tenants were a perfectly satisfied body of people, but the Premier and bis followers came along, and in order, to get into power they promised the freehold to Crown leaseholders at the original price. The Government was evidently determined to destroy every leasehold, in the Dominion; that was What this Bill meant if it meant anything. Not only had the Government given ■.way the people's patrimony, but they had given the freeholders greater concessions than they had given to any other section of the community. They had given wheat growers confessions. They complained w'icn other people refused to work, but when wheat growers refused to grow wheat they gave them a subsidy at the expense of the public. As a matter of fact the country had lost millions over the Government's wheat deals, all to placate people who were put on their feet by the Liberal Party, but who, as soon as they were promised the freehold, turned right round and supported those who previously lisd been their opponents. He criticised the proposal to sell national endowment*}, and invest the money in projects which might not be of the hast benefit to the Doraiuion. It would have been much more manly if the Government had come down with a straightout proposal to sell national endowments at once, than to whittle them awap year by year, as }vas now being done. These endowments were set aside to aid education, pensions, and the aged and needy, but now they were being parted with for a song. He criticised the butter subsidy, contending that the price of butter affected the prico of land. If there, had been no subsidy the price of land would have fallen, and the orgie of speculation now soing on would have ceased. He had rio objections to the clauses in the Bill benefiting soldiers; what he did object to was the sale of endowments, which the Premier led them to believe a few days ago were not to be sold. It was a sad day for the country when we cave away what belonged to the people. Parliament was the guardian of the people's rights, but instead of guarding the people's heritage, they were now fobbing tkem of it. ERROR IN THE ACT.

Mr. G. W. Forbes (Hurunu!) said the offer of the freehold to Crown tenants was one of the greatest political bribes «veT put before a people. On tlmt the Government came into power, and when in power they had dealt out big things in that way to their friends. Now they were cleaning up tiie crumbs. It was uo use complaining, because the Government was a freehold Government and could do as it liked; but he did complain at this method of dealing with holders of small grazing runs, wjio, un■'i»r the Act of 181*2, had a right to the serpetual renewal of their leases at an increased rental 'of 2| per cent. That right had been confirmed by the Privy Council, but the Government passed legislation in 191S getting behind the terms o£ these leaseholds. That was a breach of faith. A contract had been ssade, and the Government should stand by its bargain. The Premier said there had been an error in drafting the Act of 1802. Mr. Forbes, continuing, said that the people who took up these lands had a right to suppose that the words of the Act meant what they said, but after the people got on the land they were told that the bargain made with them was not to be respected. This, he thought, ' vna most unfair. The Minister of Lands said that when (lie leases fell due the department was of opinion that renewals were to be dealt with in the usual way. Renewals were grauted at four per cent, until one particular lessee, who was a lawyer, contended that he had a right of reItewal at 2i per cent. The Court had i plield that lessee, and the Government had given him everything he had won. The original lease at -2% per cent, rental had been solely for the purpose of encouraging people to take up difficult Unds, but it had never been intended to stand for all time. The public good was paramount, but, of course, compensation should be paid where it 'vas due. He would accept any suggestion for making certain that the lease--1 olders got the benefit of all their interests in any land dealing. He had I o quarrel with leaseholders for standing up for their principles, but the predominant desire for the freehold must ' e acceded to.

"REPUDIATION." '"fills is not a question of freehold v. leasehold; it is a question of national honor," said Mr. L. M. )siu (Christchurch North). ''l say deliberately Mat there is only one word with which to describe this transaction, and that is repudiation." Tf the Government was going back on tliesq leases, why should it not tear up leases-in-pcrpetuity? It Mas one thing to amend legislation in regard to them, and another to pass retrospective legislation taking away the rights of people who had been upIxeld by the Courts. The Prime Minister: "I have always been oi opinion that 2% per cent, applied to the first term, and that after U'at it was to be four per cent." Mr. Isitt replied that it was not a question of intention. What, mattered was what the Act of 1592 said. Mr. A. D. McLeod (Wairarapa) maintained that the Government was taking up a mistaken attitude. He said their contract should be observed. The lloii. A. T. Ngata pointed out that the 1918 Act had gone through in a hurry. It had been introduced on a Saturday and was put through all stages on the following Monday. Members interested—Sir James Carroll, the late Hon. \V. D. S. MacDonnld, and himself—had all been unavoidably absent. He had a suspicion that the 101S clause was a result of the Crown Law Office not taking its beatinp; like sportsmen. The report was tabled without further discussion.