THE LAND BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8549, 5 October 1907, Page 5

THE LAND BILL.

(By Telegraph—Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 4. The debate on the Land Bill was resumed in the House, this afternoon, by Mr H. J. H. Okey (Taranaki.) who urged the right to acquire the freehold at the original value plus one per cent. Msmbers pledged to vote for the freehold could not be satisfied with the freehold provisions of the Bill because they were so hedged about with conditions that it was practically impossible to acquire the freehold, and it was absolutely ridiculous to expect settlers to ask for freehold at the present value. The provision therefore was useless. The Hon. T. Y. Duncan (Oamaru) said that he disapproved of the change in connection with the land for settlement as provided in the Bill, and various conditions were necessnry to meet the requirements of various districts. Mr C. Lewis (Courtenay) said he was of opinion that the proposal to make two years residence on leases compulsory before a transfer was allowed would do much to check land speculation. Mr R. B. Ross (Pahiatua) contended that the 999 years lessee had a right to the increased value of his lease and doubted if any leaseholder-in-perpetuity would be disposed to convert his leasehold on the conditions of the Bill. He favoured granting the freehold at the original value. Mr W. Symes (Patea) said he disagreed with those who advocated a return to the homestead system, as the land remaining was not suitable to that system. The value of improvements should be conceded in full to a lessee when valued for renewal. Mr F. W. Lang (Manukau) said he was of opinion that the freehold would eventually come whether the present Government granted it or not. When the House resumed in the evening Mr F. M. B. Fisher (Wellington Central) expressed the hope that members would succeed in drafting a clause enabling every lease-in-perpetuity tenant to acquire the freehold at an equitable value. Mr G. Laurenson (Lyttelton) in a long speech endeavoui-ed to throw a light on the difference between Socialism and Communism, but added no new feature to the debate. Mr T. Mackenzie (Waikouaiti) contended that the only way to induce settlers to go into the backblocks was to give them the right of acquiring the freehold. Mr J. Allen (Bruce) said that the Opposition did not support land monopoly, but rather the small farmers. If Socialism was to be successfully combated the only way was to encourage small farmers to settle on the land. The debate will last throughout the sitting.