THE LAND BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8466, 17 June 1907, Page 6

THE LAND BILL.

HOW IT IS TO BE DEALT WITH. LIMITATION BY GRADUATED TAXATION. (Post Correspondent.) STRATFORD, June 15. In his speech here, last night, the Minister for Lands, the Hon. R. McNab, made an important pronouncement regarding the Land Bill. After referring to the Govemmant's limitation proposals and saying that they had the support of the farming element generally in this country, he announced that the Gcvernment intended to effect the limitation of estates by putting on a heavy graduated tax. In doing this it was not the desire of the Government to make revenue—in fact, if the result was the cutting up of large estates, the Government was prepared to forego all increase of revenue in this direction. ' Apropos of the foregoing announcement the Post says:—The Minister authorises us to state that it has been definitely decided by the Govsrnment that the limitation proposals of the Bill will be introduced on taxation basis, and that a measure on these lines has been drafted and is now ready for presentation to Parliament. These proposals will really be made part of a Taxation Bill which will be submitted separately to the House. The endowment proposals will also be submitted separately, and the net result will therefore he that any person who desires to take up a section of land will (outside of the endowment) be still in a position to take up either a freehold or a leasehold. The small landholders in New Zealand have been quietly pressing for limitation proposals more drastic than those outlined in the Bill presented to Parliament last year. So far as the Minister can see the only direction in which trouble is now likely to arise substitution of the 66 years for the 999 years' lease. In this conclusion he does not anticipate that the Government will have any very great difficulties to contend with in fighting the demand for the freehold, but if any system of freehold is conceded it will have to be along the lines of a modification of last year's measure. ' WHAT THE BILL WILL CONTAIN. The Land Biil, "the Minirt-n further states, will be amorgae very first business of the session, and it will be introduced in the shape of three concrete measures providing for (a) limitation* by way of graduated tax; (b). State endowments of lanS* and (c) the Bill proper dealing with the sixty-years' lease and lease-in-perpetuity tenants, and amendments of minor importance to existing legislation. Amongst general matters of importance to be dealt with will be improved machinery for the acquisition of large estates for close settlement purposes and original methods for eliminating the gambling aspect of the ballot. FEELING IN THE COUNTRY. In reference to the attitude of the country on the Bill, Mr McNab says he is satisfied popular opinion,is not against it where it is understood. If the farmer, for instance, does not want limitation, what is the meaning of the decision of the Farmers' Union at Levin a few a days ago? - Taking a comprehensive view of the situation, he says that all the circumstances go in the direction of showing that the critics of the Bill realise that the Government's proposals are going to materialise. Of course he had met with a very general demand for the retention of the optional tenure in the country, but outside of the endowments the optional tenure will not be interfered with. In future native lands 'wHl not come under the endowment, clause, and the net result of the Bill as a whole will be plenty of freehold for those who require it.