PRESS OPINIONS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 16 September 1913, Page 4

PRESS OPINIONS.

There is no reason at all why Mr Massey should not stipulate for the payment of full present value in offering the freehold to l.i.p. settlers. If he doles not do .so he may as well allow the settlers to buy at the original value, for the proposal„.made in the Bill will not retain a, sufficient sum to provide for the cost of calculation and collection/ As regards general policy, the Bill is on sound lines, but it is capable of improvement, and we are glad to notice that Mr Massey has invited suggestions from both sides of the House, with the assurance that he is prepared to accept those which will make the Bill better than it is.—Southland Times. /

The Land Bill is not claimed to be pevfect; Mr Massey invited the House to suggest any improvements that may But it is a useful Bill, and is .thoroughly in accord with the principles which have been endorsed by.the •ountry at the last two general elections':— Cli ristchurch. Press. /

The Opposition, having no case, endeavour to turn public sympathy from Mr Massey by decrying him as the champion of land monopolists and an encourager of big estates. As a matter of fact, every act of the present able Minister of Lands has been wholly in favour of the small holder, and distinctly unfavourable to aggregation, if every department were as competently directed as'is Mr Massey's there would be extremely little fault to find with the Reform Cabinet.—Auckland Herald.