LAND SETTLEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 578, 5 August 1909, Page 5

LAND SETTLEMENT.

; ■ . ... >_^__-_ft— _—- . • : ' MR. MASSEY REPLIES TO DR. FINDLAY.

INDIVIDUALISM V. SOCIALISM. (By Telegraph-Special Correspondent.) Auckland, August 4. The statement. made ; in regard to the. 1 Special Settlement Finance Bill by Dr. Findlay at Christchiirch wa3 referred to the ■ Leader of the ' Opposition. ' ; Mr. Massey stated 'that the Bill was not a new it having been-introduced'aiid circulated during last year's session. " , ' '• " 1 "In speaking then with regard to the proposal I-offered to support it," said Mr., Massey, ,"if the Government would proceed : with the ; measure. I said'that, ''Where any- ( thing is proposed - which will tend to the , successful settlement of tho country, which' ' will assist and encourage the settlers of the ' 1 country,-then such a proposal'will have the : hearty assistance and loyal support of overy man'onthis side of the House.' ... "But the Government did not. proceed with tho Bill. It was numbered with the . slaughtered innocents at the end of tho session: and I could come to no othor conclusion than that it was simply introduced for electioneering purposes. I repeat my ofter of 1908, and ask them to put the BUI through during 'the coming session. .'''". "Dr. Findlay seemed to think, or at all events desired to leave the impression, that the Danish system of settlement was Social- - ism," said Mr. Massey "It is nothing of the sort," he added, "because it encourages individualism, and individual ownership in every possible way. It is distinctly individualistic,'and encourages tho freehold, just as the New Zealand system is Socialistic because it tends to State ownership, and in most cases denies tho freehold to the settler. "Dr. Findlay says that ' Mr. Massey and some of his friends havo a haunting fear of Socialism.'• Fear is scarcely tho word. I think Socialism is a mistake; that is, I believe that any Stato which nationalises land and'nationalises industry will come to grief. I do not believe that State ownership in one country can oompeto with private enterprise in another. I can respect an honest Socialist however I may differ from him,, but I cannot possibly hare, any respect for men who are one dav Socialists and the next day individualists just as it appears to suit their purposes." ■