RE STOREMEN'S UNION

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1126, 13 May 1911, Page 3

RE STOREMEN'S UNION

Sir,—After muling tlie letter in last Saturday's Dominion, signed "Imprimatur," j'shm-kl like to lake this opportunity of expressing my views on t!io matter. Firstly, allow mo to state that I am also a storeman and packer, and.have been one for tho last fifteen years. I am married, and have tlnvc young chililren. and my salary is Jos. per week. So you will understand me. Mr. F.ditor, that 1 cannot bo accused of living in luxurious extravagance. Now, I have a brother in Sydney workins as storeman for a wholesale house who receives a salary of £3 lus. per week, and he is not married. I am not envious' of him ; but dees not this seem to bear out "Imprimatur's" statement (that statement with the big "sting in its tail") nnent the disposing (if stolen goods in !>ig cities? 1 hold thai a man has a right to a living wage, irrespective of trade or profession. ■ Therefore, I strongly uphold the suggestion of "Imprimatur," re the formation of n storcmen and packers' union. Furthermore, I and several other storemen friends of mine are prepared to utilise all our spare time, and do everxthing in our poiver Jα

furtherance of the proposed union. 1 should feel iii(]ol)tp<l to you or Imprimatur" for ;i hint or. two as to t!io best methods to adopt for the Tarrying out of the •end in viev, - .—l am, etc.,

UXITY IS STHKXGTII

May 11

Sir,—A letter in your paper of the Gth insf., s'.iTs-es (lie nocil of a Kloiemcn's Union. Yiinr correspondent is in evident need of ;>.-M>l:iiiec if Ilin facts as rolatocl I'.v him are correct. "Irjpriniatur" will find if lo liis lulrantnjo to rail or correspond with Mr. G. 0. Farland, Queen's (-'hiimliers, who will assist him in any wiiy lie mny require—l fun, etc.,

Ci. J. MEE,

Bute Street,

THE LAND PROBLEM

Hir, —Settlement, under the Land Settlement Finance. Act is progressing slowly, eleven .-ellk'inenls liein;; fo far formed of a. total area of 10,Go8 acres, at a total cost of .£131,575, the average price, per nrre being 10s. There is no doubt the Act will prove, a boon to the would-be s'/lllffr with some XIOOO of capital, wiic. would be handicapped if he had to make, say, ri'lJOn deposit, on the purchase money of his land. Take a >cttler who chooses a. 100-aero block at .£2O per acre. His first year's expenses would be somewhat us follows :-

■f per cent deposit Half per cent, contingency ac-

80 (1 0

co tint

10 0 0

Fee for preparation transfer... 2 2 0 Fee for preparation mortgage 3 3.0 filamp duly on transfer 15 0 0 Registration fee on ditto 0 10 0 l!ej;islrat''on fee on moitgago 010 0 New certificate title 10 0

112 5 (I

l'ivo-rnomod house, cowshed, stable, outhouses, and .share fencing, say Thirty cows at, say, £S Horse, springcarr, harness, cans, etc., say One year's rent (or interest on .£102(1 nt C per cent.)... 115 \ 0 Rales ami insurai.ee 5 0 0

2.">0 n n 210 0 0

50 0 0

Total

772 !> 0

Of course the ,£BO deposit, the .£lO contingency item, tho JC22 ss. legal costs, Ihe .£540 for house, cowshed, etc., the cows, and horse, etc., would not be recurring expenses, but tlie Xl2O Is. for rent and rate?, etc., would of tours* recur yearly.

It i.s evident, to my mind, this Act is merely •temporising with the land question, and is no real solution. There is no real check on the inflated value of land, other than (ho inspection by the Land Purchase Hoard and subsequent consideration by that body. In its conclusions the board, must Ijo guided by the average value of land in the vicinity, and as this is always inflated, too high a price will be given, lii iact, the unequalled opportunity the. Act afl'ords the owners of properly (o realise in cash the total value of their lands will certainly tend to make land still dearer. Instead of as at present getting a snail proportion of his purchase money, the owner gets Government guaranteed debentures, with interest at 5 per cent, for the whole of the purchase money, for 21 years' currency, but which caii be realised in 5 yean; on giving six month.-.' notice. The fact is they are realisable at once, as any bank or association like the National . Mutual or A.M.P. would only be (oo glad to cash the whole at par.

In conclusion, sir. it is evident this scheme of land 'settlement as such is a mere delusion. Wh'le placing the owner of land in a stronger and more enviable position than ever before it leaves untouched the question of thn right nf the individual to annrnpriate. commnnitycrfated value*. Tnd.-r its 'undoubtedly beneficent provisions the jcMlt will still be workinp himself and family to death tn pay interest on a price which is ridiculously inflated bevond its Use value. No scheme of land settlement that merely enslaves, men to help the other fell on- in idleness can commend ii=»lf. Wh-U is needed U a nlan (hat nil! enable bop.v fidi- settlors to Hl;e up land at a price and under conditions tint are fair and reasonable, hswinjf 'cjiard to the average value of produce.—l am, c'.c, A. IT.- GIBSON. Ngaio, May 8, 1011.

A. IT.- GIBSON