THE COLONIAL TREASURER ON RAISING THE PRICE OF LAND.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 645, 8 July 1876, Page 2

THE COLONIAL TREASURER ON RAISING THE PRICE OF LAND.

The following is tha portion of the financial stateraeut referring* to the proposed advance in the pricj of Ciown hind, an'l has been made by the Government, not with the view of increasing the Colonial x'evenue — for that, it will not do — but that, under the newly constituted local government organisation, it may serve to increase the means at the disposal of the local bodies by increaseing their laud funds. Another, and not unreasonable object, also will be gained. The minimum value which will thus be set upon the land of the Colony will, to use the Colonial Treasurer's own expression, •' do justice to those who long since purchased laud at its present prioo3, aud who have a right to consider that their labours in making the colony what it 19, vendor it but fair that those who now come in sliouM pay a higher rate for laud than was paid by the' pioneers of settlements." It will bo seen also that another act of justice is sought to l)b cqncadec}, the giving facilities for

tho acquisition of land by sc.tluivi ami tiio sous ol .settlers instead of nearly confining biich advantages to ininirjiunts. Wo c:ciiMct as follows :—: — " \Vu»t we intend, is to ask the Assembly t> CJlicut* m rauiag tlio up»et pri''« wherever i\, a lan than La an acr-*, by udoho 25 p<»i* "eiit, wiihoutj, however. intdL-feruii; with tlio different l»ni systems in f jrce throughout thj colony, with two u\ocplioiii, one, tuafc wo propose to repeal ail power to make iree grant* of land, includiug those unde- the Immigrants Lmd Act ; the other, that wo shall nsk tlte Assainbly to agree to a much enlarged syotein of deferred payments. ' We are oonvinced that no artificial system of special settlement will compare with a general provision, open alike to new corners and old sott'ore, to poor and rich, to acquire on easy terms of settlement a homestead of 200 acr"a. To tho young men growing up in the Colony tlm will be a piiceltss boon. We had considerable hesitaliDn in deciding whether it was expedient to recommend that tho up3et price of land in Canterbury should be increased. Wo thought that the price ihould bo higher than it has been daring past yoars, but we could nob o jmo to tho conclusion to rait* it anywhere this year over L 2 an acre. All these matters I can only touch upon now, but it is evident that, as tho Gortfnnvn!; hare intimated tlit intention of u»k ing Parliament to raise the price of land, it is uot desirable to allow speculative purchases at oxistin^ prices. In the interval, if no action is taken, the land office*, where land is optn for selection, will be crowded. I ihall therefore aslc the committee to agree to a resolution to tho effect, ' That upon purchases of land made after this date, any addition that by law this sesiion may become payable on similar land shall, as a condition of the issue of the Croirn grant, be payable on land taken up between the presant and that of tho oming into force of the General Act, incrca in? Ihi pnea.' This rcfolufcion, I wiih ib to ba distinctly understjod, will in mva/ bind tie House to agree to Ih 3 additional price ; nor will it involve any extra paymanfc in anticipation of the law ; but it will be a speculation on the issues of the deliberation of the Assembly, while it. will leaTe the Assembly time for faiiiy consi -Jering the question. I appeal to the committee tj accept tha rjsolut.oi.in this spirit, and not to discuss the question of the incroasj before there has been time to take the whole financial Statement mto consideration. With suggested changes, from the Abolition propo*aU of la*t jear, wo believe we may dispense with direct tax-, ation for olonia! purposes, and those change* are education to bo partly ch.irgod on the Land Kevenue, and the bulk of the coat of charitable institutions, exclusive of lunatic asylums, to bo devoted t j tha boroughj an 1 countiei.