RATIONALISATION OF THE LAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1626, 5 December 1882, Page 2

RATIONALISATION OF THE LAND.

" AM.'Lo-Ab'-iTRVLiYN" writes : —The decided movement m New Zealand of a nationalisation of the land, in the guiseof a well-considered bill, based on the principle that the Btatc should not relinquish the freehold, has tjathoied fresh momentum, i notice, and it is ceitainly watched on this side with gicat interest. Home thiidv alienation of the , Crown lands 'has been cimed much too far in some members of the group, and it is well to pause in time beiorc blunders aie committed that are necessarily irrevocable. I think for my own part that the States ought to pause and retain for the present all freehold rights, and simply dispose of land for a definite period, and, while securing thus a fair profit to the vState, the holders under Government might, and should, enjoy advantages unknown here. In reference to this Mr Henry George recently issued, a rather remarkable .contribution to political economy on a f social' 'aha humane 'basis, entitled • i "Fro'gfe"ss*"and Poverty," which had the honour of being reviewed iif the Xtmct,, and the present New Zealand land movement is quite on the lines of his argument. The retention by the State of the land as freehold is no doubt theoretically a good idea, and practically >it would, of j course, prevent individuals becoming mere land monopolists. Probably the Government is the best landlord in the long run, and it is really to this that the whole matter resolves /.itself.; , By* grant? ing equitable leases, and allowing fairly 'for improvements, , the Government would place its tonants in a very advauJtageoHS position, and the capital of the latter, instead of being locked' up' in 'the soil, could be employed in many other ways. There are several details yet to be worked out, and even that ardent land reformer, Sir George Grey, has criti.cised the scheme! It'is very'obvious that' -the provincial population of this country, outside 1 th'e 1 'golden circle of ' the heredi- ' tary landowner, Vpuld, ,rejoice .to, have, a tithe "of" 'the '"excellent things legislatively preparing for tlie good folks of the r , Brijftijtof the jgbnth^ ip'HqflT th&ldnd '}s likely , to b.ecp.nie a ygry- burning tiqii 'beJoTe>iQijg.o\B4t Mn^fa rnier s>. •qatuj'ally, do npt reg«ard lpattgrs pastQrarfrqm £ colph'jal! View»'|(ointjf and •th'ey'^ndw' 1 '^ellthe, p\\6 sig^ficaliee^Qf < th& CptistaiiV ■ |xien|ip^, 6|- the' .whjeaVgpowi^g * ar^ Wi Aus£ralia^anQ/ch f e laying ydoSy'nV of fresh ■ f '