THE LAND QUESTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10515, 3 January 1912, Page 5

THE LAND QUESTION.

[Te The Editor j Sir, — Now the elections ore over, a<njd, according to tike returns published, the so-called' Hefbrm Parity has got a majority, I venture to serfc that the electors of this donntry will not have long .to wia£& £os} evidence as to what, reforms they are 6°&ng to tackle. We hav© beard a lloti abou/t .CMvdl Service ireforcm audi foaxi (reform, and goodness oniy; knows hOw in amy other reforms. ■Now, I think that taOS) sbudeaite of thfe laind' question who heliev© ito. sh& pjmcajpiles of democracy wiH admit thivt whom a Governtneat of a country ipdertakies the role" of landlord, that tGovernment should not tiho seffl&ng values of land' jaa ft baclfl of, vaßuie tor' rentall purposes. : AooordSng to tit? ethics of democracy, a a coumfcry , should . regulate the ren/feal® by fthe National Dteibt, based upon the saaiurai pro* dittoing capabilities of the bo 3. Tt> try and explain X am idriyjug at, I wall start by pointing out t&aff there are just about 86 tntftliimmg o$ acres of land occupied in tha© .Dorrin'ion ,and to try to mafee imy ergomeats more diear, I wiffl sa£,S iefc thhs 36 / imsJJtton acres be* ch:ssied auto seven' clas«ifes, and start at five shi - lingis! per acre, and joanp five shillings eadh time. Then you w3t \--.we the highest cassis at a value of shiffltings. That will-' strike an &vw» \ a@t y of ju&tome pound per aero. Now, 4 per cent, struck upon this system I. wiill'l realiso, roughil{y speaking about, I on© nuiHiotn and a halif of money. Amf . ■ ; thfi'S in face of the fact that tth& G<DVt> . emment up tall the present time have only teolleoted/ of a mildaon yearly from the laatcL As a student of the land question, I also contend that limitation Of leaseholds should be regulated;, on a valuation basis, and not am acreage has-; is as at .present. Along with this, the person who leases land from- tihe State fihouSjd be given a fixity c* +*>,-7_ ure, in the shape of fixed re: 1 t. probably sixty years, and ; 1 ; - above-mentioned) principle of ;; - ing the rent wlas carried.' ou;t at.' \ no righlt-thinkding .person oou.ii object. Of •course, I know that this Dominion* contains a very largo percentage of land .gamblers. To deal with them, I would suggest that the State sell them their piece of Ifetnd, but by all moans make them pay the full market value. Yes, if ithey ask for the principle of the freehold then! it is only honest to the taxpayers! ■that they should get the market value for their land. -Now, Mr' Massif, .;♦/ as you are a believer in the optional system of taking up land, perhaps yoai will see your way cfear to place the optional system on a sound: footing, and if you do so I am satisfied that iit will be only the land gambler who will l a*k for the freehold. I now conclude, iiumibly trusting that you, Mir Editor, wilii give space to my Letter.— I am, etc., CHABiLtES SMITH, Wariliokr Valley. '