The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prevalebit. SATURDAY, JULY 8, 1886. Land Nationalisation.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1279, 3 July 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prevalebit. SATURDAY, JULY 8, 1886. Land Nationalisation.

We are not surprised that the remarks we made a few days ago upon the question of Land Nationalisation should have called forth spirited retorts from our correspondents “ One of the People” and “Radical.” These gentlemen, whose letters appeared in our last issue, propound two very formidable problems. One asks : Is not land the source of all wealth ? And the other wants to know what “ subjects,” in our opinion, should bear taxation. Speaking very broadly, land is the source of all wealth, but leaving abstract principles and coming to practical economy we find there are several other factors in the creation of capital. The sea and the air anddabor and brains all add something to our store, and our mineral deposits, at least so far as land taxation and land nationalisation are concerned, cannot be regarded as products of the soil m the ordinary acceptation of the term. As a first principle we will assent to the Biblical assertion that ail things are dust, but—very high authorities to the contrary, notwithstanding—this is not an axiom of political economy. This problem is a very complex one, and might be argued ad infinitum, but has no material bearing upon the question at issue, and need not encumber the discussion of the difficulty. As regards taxation, we are out and out freetraders Were it possible to dispense with taxation altogether our ideal of a happy and prosperous community would be at - tained ; but as the exigencies of the country demand a revenue, and a large one too, we contend that that revenue should be raised by the imposition of taxes which will fall equitably upon every individual of the State. We have no sympathy with “ stimulating manufactures” by means of the Customs tariff. Both theory and experience show that we might as well attempt to establish a forest by growing trees in a hot-house as to develop national trade by the stimulus of protection. Nor have we any sympathy with the proposal to nationalise the land by the imposition of an exorbitant land tax. It may be very desirable for the State to become re-possessed of large tracts of agricultural land ; we believe it is, but we cannot reconcile ourselves to a policy of confiscation, be that policy ever so plausible. ' The State has parted with the land upon its own terms, it has, morally, been a party to any irregular or undesirable acquisition, and the existing evils cannot be remedied by the spoliation of the present possessors of the soil. The people have during late years been so loudly told that the land is lheir estate, and is wrongfully kept from them that their idea of proprietorship and justice, in this particular case, has become rather hazy, and they are disposed to regard any dissentient from their views as a monopolist, an oppressor of the poor, and a defender of old abuses. At the risk of incurring all these epithets we confess that we dissent, and dissent very strongly, from the views held by the spoliation party ; but any just and feasible scheme for the nationalisation of the land would have our cordial sympathy and support. To our mird the only fair proposal towards this end is that which suggests purchase by the State, and here the inability of the State to purchase is an insuperable obstacle. This is the sole objection we take to the address which called forth the comments challenged by our correspondents, and until some fair and reasonable scheme be devised for the removal of the difficulty we cannot regard land nationalisation as within the range of practical politics

The second of the winter, series of enter-1 tainments arranged in connection with the 1 Episcopalian Church, took place at St Stephen’s Schoolroom last evening. Thera was a fair attendance, and the proceedings were of a moat enjoyable character. The walls of the room were decorated by a num- | ber of pictures and diagrams. The Rev Mr Otway delivered a very interesting address on the lata terraces of the Hot Lakes district, and musical items were contributed by a number of well-known amateurs. Kefresbments were provided during the evening by lady members of the congregation and proved a very popular feature of the entertainment.

The rainfall at Alford Forest during June was 4.43 inches, at Alford House 2-60.

A meeting of the Rakaia Cemetery Board was held on Thursday, but the business transacted was of an unimportant character.

In consequence ol the lateness of the hour at which the County Council rose yesterday afternoon, the usual monthly meetings of the Hospital Committee and Old Men’s Homo Committee were postponed until Tuesday next, at 3 p.m. The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Limited, has just received the following cable message from its London office, dated Ist inst.;—“Wool —Coarse crossbred has advanced Jd per lb. The present series of sales will close on 17th inst., and the next will commence on the 7th September, The fifth series is fixed to open on 23rd November.” — Messrs Dalgety and Company, Limited have received a cable message from their head office, dated London, Ist inst., to the following effect; —“The fourth series of London Wool Sales have been fixed to open on the 7th September, and the filth series on November 23rd. Sales continue firm, with active and brisk competition.”

A meeting of the Committee of the Ashburton will be held at the Club’s room this evening at 8 o’clock.

By substituting the ytotii breath for wealth in our last issue we made our correspondent ‘’Radical” ask “la not land the source of al* breath?”

The Midland Railway’BillSpassed its third reading in the House of Representatives at 2,15 this morning.

In our report of yesterday's meeting of the County Council, we statee that the prayer of a petition for the constitution of a new Road district at Mayfield was granted; We should have stated that the prayer was granted subject to certain amendments being made in the boundaries proposed by the petitioners.