THE LAND QUESTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2644, 28 October 1909, Page 5

THE LAND QUESTION.

THE PROBABLE GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL. (Special to “Times.”) ‘ WELLINGTON, Oct. 27. It becomes increasingly evident that the settlement of the land question, which the Premier has promised shall take place this session, and respecting the details of which he and his colleagues have maintained silence, will be based on a proposal to secure from the landholder a percentage of the ‘‘unearned increment.” The idea of following Mr. Lloyd-George’s proposal m his Budget ivas •first’ suggested by the “Lyttelton Times” immediately after the return of its editor, who was recently on a brief visit to Wellington, and it was thought in certain quarters, that the suggestion was “inspired. Confirmation was last night given to the, supposition when Mr. G. Laurenson, the chief Government Whip, indicated in his speech on the Loan Bill tliat there should b a tax that would secure 20 per cent of the unearned increment. This, he said, would produce £1.100,000 odd per annum, and he asked if Opposition "members were prepared to follow him in that direction. Mr. T. E. Taylor to-night took up a similar line in his speech, and it .deems probable that the Lloyd-Georgo idea is likely to be used as a means M getting the Government out of its freehold versus leasehold, dilemma.Askec^his' view on the matter to-night, Mr| Massey says it is_ too soon to express,Any definite opinion on the point.