THE LAND BATTLE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10124, 21 October 1910, Page 5

THE LAND BATTLE.

LEASEHOLDERS PREPARING AMMUNITION. It is whispered in some parts of Parliament Buildings, says the Evening Post, that the Government Will make a bold attempt to'get the Land Bill passed this session. Another whisper is that the leaseholders have conspired to block the Bill. Leaseholders, however, deny tha*; there is any truth in this second rumour. I hey have not met; they have not conferred. No concerted plan of action . has been adopted so far, but, as individuals, the leaseholders are professing an eagerness to fight for their principles on and on. The amendments which Mr Witty moved for the leasehold cause when the Bill was before the Lands Committee will be again proposed when the Bill is under fire in the House. Chiefly, Mr Witty's amendments concerned lease-in-perpetuity holdings. The Bill stipulates that the selling price of these estates should be the original value. Mr Witty desired, in committee, to substitute "present" for original, and when this motion was defeated he tried in vain to ge "two-thirds" put in place of "one-fourth," "If the Ministerial whip is cracked?" was one query put to a pugnacious leaseholder to-day. He replied, with a grim smile, that the leaseholders were in no dread of the whip; itc ould be cracked to further orders; hey woulcl not flinch. Last year the land battle was fought in one round. The Opposition sat back comfortable, and left the Idling to the leseholders. This year the battle will be in two rounds. The leaseholders have to open the atack, for the I.i.p..matter comes in the first section. The Opposition's turn will occur in the second part, which contains the provisions for compulsory leasing.