LAND LEGISLATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2108, 17 June 1907, Page 4

LAND LEGISLATION.

THE LIMITATION OF ESTATES. PROPOSED GRADUATED TAX. Press Association. WELLINGTON, last night. In his speech at Stratford, tho Minister for Lands announced that the Government intended to effect the limitation of estates by putting on a hoav” graduated tax. Apropos of this, the Post states that it is authorised by the Minister to say that it has been definitely decided by tho Government that the limitation proposals of the Bill will bo introduced on a taxation basis, and that a measure on these lines has been drafted, and is now ready for presentation to Parliament. These proposals will really' be jiart of a Taxation Bill, which will be submitted separately; and tlio result will therefore be that any person who desires to take lip a section of land will (outside of endowment) be still in a position to take up either a freehold or a leasehold.' The small landholders jn N.Z. have been quietly pressing for limitation proposals more drastic than those outlined in the Bill ’’resented to Parlianient last year. So far as the Minister can see, the onlydirection in which troublo is now likely to arise is the substitution of the 66 years’ lcaso for "tlio 999 years’ lease. In this connection he does not anticipate that the * Government will have any very great difficulties to contend with in fighting tho demand for freehold, but if any system of freehold is conceded if "'id have to be on other lines, or ajnodification of last year’s measure. The Land Bill will be amongst the first business of the'session, and it will be introduced in the shape of three concrete measures, providing for—(a) limitation by way of a graduated tax, (b) State endowments of land, (c) the Bill proper dealing wit]i_ 66 years’ lease and lease in perpetuity tenants, and amendments of minor importance to existing legislation. STRATFORD, Saturday. Tlio .Hon, Mr. McNab gave an address here last night on tho Land Bill, a resolution . being" "carried" at the eloso, on the -motion of the County Chairman, that tho meeting expresses gratification that it is the Government’s intention to prevent 1 means of the graduated land tax the aggregation of large estates, and also that th© Government intends to retain on tlio'Statute‘Book the freehold option ; and an expression of approval at the endowments scheme.