THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1912. BURSTING UP ESTATES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10708, 31 August 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1912. BURSTING UP ESTATES.

The second reading of the Land and Income Assessment Act Amendment Bill, the chief feature of which is the increasing of the hind tax on estates of a value of over £30,000, was passed in tile Housq of Representatives on Friday morning without a division. By a strange irony of fate, the Opposition found itself in the position that it could not oppose the measure. For years it has contended that the tax should be sufficiently high to compel the sub-division of largo estates, but it has not had the courage to put its opinions to the test. The Massey Government, which lias been variously described as the friend of the squatter and the large land-own-er, has ■shown its sympathy with its friends by calling upon them to contri- . bute a larger share towards the re- j venue of the country, or to accept the alternative and sub-divide their estates. This act of friendship will create consternation in the camp of those mock-Liberals who have been constantly declaiming- against the large land-owner, but have done practically nothing to distribute the possession, of the bind. If the Massey Government is the friend of the squatter, well may be the squatter ask to be saved from his friends'. • All of this talk about the-Reform Party being supported by wealth and privilege is, of course, pure, unadulterated fudge. But to return to the graduated land tax. Will it have the effect of producing sub-division, or will the owners be*, content to pay the extra tax? Tn many cases, wo have no doubt, the increased taxation will be paid, at •anyrate while produce is high, and values are on the up-grade. It is reasonable to suppose, however, 'that Mumeroug owners, fearing a still further turn of the screw, will bo glad '. to divest themselves of portions of their estate. It then becomes the duty of the Government to consider : how the land can bo acquired without reverting to further borrowing. Mr Massey lr'6 indicated that bo- is pro-

paring legislation to deal with tl:o subject. It was suggested in there columns'some months back that the Government might see its way clear to assist the private acquisition &i estates for closer settlement, by guaranteeing the whole, or a portion cf the purchase money. This Would enable men with limited means to go upon. the land and make homes for themselves. From what can be gathered, the Prime Minister has some such scheme as this in contemplation. It would really be an extension of the Land Settlement Finance Act, only thai tli--' restrictions under that Act would be removed. The aim of the Ma.<vsoy Government is -o induce voluntary sab-division, and, if this can be. attained without resort to pressure, an enormou sadvance will be made in land settlement in the Dominion. In the course of the discussion in the House on Jhursd.vy night, Sir Joseph Ward that his Government had been offered more land than it. could afford to buy. That may be so. Jt does not prove, however, that more land was offered than could be elowlv settled and improved by the people already in the Dominion. The quesi tion appears to have been .purely anl simply one of. mc-niey, and the Ward Government did not appear capable of bringing down a closer settlement policy which did not involve • immense borrowing. There is reason to hope that the party at present occupying the Treasury Benches will redeem it.? pledge to make the land available to the people. While, however, it i* devoting attention to the cultivated lands, it must not lope sight of the fact that there are several millions of acre* of uncultivated (SWi? and Native lands still unoccupied. These lands must be thrown open simultaneously Avith the cultivated estates, and must be made to produce at the earliest possible moment. The intentions cf the Government in respect to Native Umh have not yet been cleirly indicated, but there is reason to suppose that | they will bo, embodied in legislation which will be brought down during the' present session cf Parliament, Meanwhile, there is eau-e for satisfaction In the renV.tio'n that the. Reform Party in facing in n hold, determined and statesmanlike manner the nid-ii important problem cf the hour.