LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1142, 1 June 1911, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

WHAT THE RECENT CENSUS TEACHES. Sir,—To every thoughtful, citizen the position of this Dominion as revealed by the recent census returns must be most unsatisfactory. All old settlers who have taken an intelligent interest in public affuirs know that' the successful settlement of any new country depends, I think I may say absolutely, on the skill with which its transit and land settlement departments are administered. Probably no two administrators ever bcasted so long or loudly of their wonderful railway and laud policy and administration as Richard John Seddon and Joseph George Ward. Where arc they now? The present census reveals the fact that in both departments they have proved themselves a miserable and contemptible failure. Let us take a glance at what has been done in Mr. Seddon's own much-favoured little district. He became Premier on May 1, 1893. Dp to March 31 of that, year, the expenditure on the railways of Westland had been ,£496,868. On .March 31 last it had increased to .£1,862,904, or ,£1,466.036 more. This is less than .£34,000 short of a million and a half, and for all the good it has done'in developing the Dominion it would have been better to have tipped it into the sea, for w.e should then have saved the yearly loss of .£26,717, which we now have to moke good to pay interest on the two millions so shamefully squandered in the district that sent Mr. Seddon into Parliament. As regards its effect on land settlement, on which the prosperous advancement of all new countries depends, it does not appear to have done any good whatever, for the census of 187S shows that the population of Westland was then 16,932; it has never since been as much, and in 1906 it was only 14,674, or 225S fewer than it was twenty-eight years previously. What it is now we do not know. Probably the loss of population has been so great that the Government dare not reveal it until they are. absolutely compelled to. Evidently their policy in this district has failed utterly. How different would have been the result had this million and a half been expended in opening up the Raglan and Kawhia districts. Let us now pay a little attention to Hawke's Bay. This is one of the finest and most productive districts in the Dominion. For some reason, probably simply because it was in tho North Island, tho southern Governments (o my certain knowledge ever since 18S2, and probably long before, made very heavy differential rates against it, I believe with the express object of retarding its progress, expecting that by so doing they would promote tho interests of the southern districts, in which they were moro personally interested. Hawke's Bay, however, continued to progress, but. not so fast as it should have done, up to 1903, when the census of that year shows its population, to have been 42,2(2. We are now told as the result of tho census just taken that "the unchecked census returns gives the population of Hawke's Bay at 27,762." This shows a loss of 14,480. •• To some small extent "checking" may alter this, bnt it is not likely to reverse the position. This is a disgraco to the Dominion. It can only be due to downright bad government. It most certainly is not due to want of natural resources, and it proves the truth of my assertion that ever since Sir Julius Voge'l's time, when the Government of this country has been in the hands of the men styling themselves the "Great Liberal Party," they have to the fullest possible extent used the northern. lines, not to. benefit the Dominion, but to retard the development, of the north as much as possible, in the belief that by so doing thcy'could transfer the greater part of its trade and commerce to their own particular southern districts.

Theso gentlemen appear to have yet to learn that it is not man, but Nature, that fixes-the great trade centresoorf r any countrv, as witness London, New York, St. Petersburg, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, and many .other trade centres. To any stntqsman, the most cursory glance over the map of New Zealand ought to liavo revealed tho fact that in jVe«; Zealand Naturo has given that position preeminently to Auckland, and all their efforts cannot take it from her. They, however, greatly retarded its progress in the past, are still doing so, and if we are foolish enough to allow them, will do 50 to a still greater extent in the future. The Government appear to be aware of the mistake they nave made with regard to Hawke's Bay, and their obvious intention is to try and. conciliate tho Hawke's Bay constituencies by still further plundering Auckland. I am mistaken if Auckland is prepared to stand this treatment any longer. ' My idea is that Auckland and Hawke's Bay should join forces, and that we should demand, if not of the coming session of Parliament, at least of the incoming Government, that not only shall the NapierGisborne line be constructed from both ends, but that also the line that was explored prior to 1897, from Te Awamutu to Napier, shall bo constructed at the same time and in equal force from both Napier and Auckland. This would really open up the interior of the North Island. AVe aro entitled to all this and much more.—l am, etc., SAMUEL VAILE. Auckland, 20th May, 1011. THE NATIONAL LEAGUE. Sir,—l was certainly surprised to read that the above-named association squashed a motion of protest against extra emoluments being granted to Judges. If this is not a proper subject, for discussion by a body asking the public to support its endeavour to put out mischievous Acts, what can be its use? If its object is to quench conflagrations, surely the practice of granting extra emoluments to Judges by the Government raises a scorcher. In this case, what opinion can one have of a brigade which declines to act because the spot attacked by tho (lames is fire-proof, when all around aro certainly many inflammable substances, through and round which it steals its insidious way, and finally few places are left unat tacked? There is no outside pressure available to quench it. In raising this question and other legal matters lately, before the public in the way you have, you slionid have the support of all citizens who wish their rulers, like Caesar's I wife, to be above the very thought of suspicion. Tor my part, I thank you. I am, etc. THOMAS WARD. Sir,—The National League has published a policy of a kind, and somo foolish people iiow think that it has justified its existence, and that it is a boon and a blessing to men. This "policy" is neither more nor less than an anti-prohibition policy; in other words, a liquor policy, and 'although the published policy has been carefully worded so as to be not. too definite, still it is quite clear enough for the average mind lo see through. Some I of the paragraphs are so delightfully vague that, they sound more like utterances from Cabinet Ministers. One great reason advanced by the League as (0 why people should join its ranks is to enable it to be strong enough to fight certain outspoken (and misguided) parsons, who, they sav, arc going to try. to stop smoking next. Such an amazing statement should be laughed at, but it is certain that many people have joined the League solely on this account. The League aims directly at the democratic principles that wo boast of in this countrv. It hopes to get together a largo body o'f voters, and, having got them into harness, it will then endeavour to drive them to tho local option poll. The committee of tho League will endeavour to think for its members, and then, after telling theso members that they had better be careful, or they will not be allowed to have a smoke, this committee will say, "Now go and vote for our ticket." As manv members of the League aro quite young, I; ' lc y arp lively to take the bait, unless they can be persuaded to think for themselves. Think of the method in which this society was formed. Agents were running round all over the cily. in hotel bars and everywhere, with lists for prospective members to sign. People were told that the subscription was Is. per annum, but the payment of the subscription was not insisted upon. The stated object of t.ho League was then to fight tho Cold Tea partv, and many people signed on. It \v.as like forming a rebel horde to fight eomeborlv or anyone. Now—months later --when the society has been formed, the committee starts to wonder and think

what it has been formed for. or, rather, what they will say it has been formed

for. The League docs not believe (hat human clay can be modelled by the legislative patter, and, this being so, it should move to abolish all the laws of (lie land, and let us get back to the Stone Ago. The League, with its intention to take all steps to oppose the encroachment upon the rights of individuals, tailed in its first chance, when a motion came forward regarding .Supreme Court .lodges. Six people spoke to tho motion, and live of them were lowvers. Probably tho committee had a reason for rejecting the motion on this subject, lint, of course, tho reason was not. stated. There is an unwritten law of tho League apparently, which provides for the'executive to think, and for the members to do as they advise.' . . Thinkers had better make sure that tho hidden fangs of (he League'are not sharper than those exposed by the people they wish to destroy, as otherwise (hey may find, aftpr they have fed their animal up, that he can bite—l am. etc. BITTEN. THE LAND PROBLEM. Sir,—Recent land sales on 'he West Coast of the North Island, where the land has fetched anything fiom .£24 to .£7O per acre, must give rise to the reflection whether in a young ■ juntry like ours these prices are for the welfare of the community or otherwise. At. Rongotea, near Feilding, land valued somo fifteen vears ago at .£7 10s., sold lately at .£35. At Longburn a block jf sonic 2GIW acres, belonging to a deceased estate, bought some twenty years ?go nt £6 10s. per acre, is now vnltted in parts at M- r > per acre, and would probably fetch a good deal more, and portions handy to the freezing works there am shortly to bo cut up into ten-acre blocks, '.ml will probably fetch up to .£BO per acre. ' This particular block is still in :1s pristine condition, nothing having been done, except to use it for grazing purposes. These high values are plainly attributable not to "use.'' values, but to the increased value placed on the land T;y the community, through the discoveries of genius (vide, the Laval separator, the freezing process, quicker steam service, stc.), and the spending of loan moneys in making roads and railways, and opening up the country—the value known peuerally as tho "unearned increment." Nearly the whole of these benefits have pone into the pockets of the land-owner, in the shape of increased values, or interest and rents demanded and obtained on such values. Taking the census returns, it is plain wo are not keeping tho pick of our young men. They are going where land is : cheaper and taxation lighter—to Australia, Canada, and the United States. Is it a right and sensiblo policy in a young country like ours to build up a landed aristocracy (for that is what it is coming to) nt tho cost of locking up vast areas crying for settlement? Of only . alf using those areas already settled, and capable of supporting many more families, of Hooping down the rural population, and denying access to lands by our young men and women, except on forms that are practically prohibitive? I think all sensible peoplo will at least .insider it a questionable proposition. It amounts to this, in effect, 'that before a man and his lniiiilv cmi lettle down on some 00 acres of fair land, thev have to-i.ay the owner some ,£2OOO, or, say, .£IOO per .Hunum for vie right, to use it.' That is to say, the man is keeping two families. Now, I ftm no advocate of "confiscation" or "spoliation." I leave that to the land monopolists, who have confiscated more of (he community's wealth during the last fifteen years, in the shape of unearned increment, than would have sufficed to maintain a fleet of Dreadnoughts. I consider the "use" value of the iand capitalised belongs (o the owner, in addition to snch improvements as :.'.re due (o his induafrv, skill, and foresight. All above this (he community has created, and is obsessed if it fails' to see the vital urgency of enforcing its claim to its collection." There are many ways of doing thi?, but I would point out that the mere fact of the recognition on the part of tho community to its right to its own would at once bring down land values to their "use" level. There would lc no object in a man asking more for his land than its use or living value, if he knew the State would take the additional value ho demanded. , But tho gain to ihc community would bo enormous. Small farm settlements would spring up everywhere, with vastly improved methods r.f tillage. These would give rise to numbers of subsidiary industries, which are now stilled for want of room to expand. Towns and villages would be soon dotted oyer tho "land. There would be no need of an immigration policy, and ihe 'iic.nployed problem would vanish. It would do more in a year to solve ihe defence problem than any number of imported military experts. There can be no man keener to fight for his country than the man who has wife, children, and land at stake.—l am, etc., A. A. GIBSON. [ Ngaio, May 30, 1911. WAKE UP, WELLINGTON. Sir,—l would like, through your widelyread and valuable, columns, to make a suggestion to that estimable body, tho Chamber,of Commerce. It is this. Years ago Wellington had an A. and P. Association, which fell through. Now, sir, the suggestion I make is that that body be revived, and that they make it a Royal show or convincing ground for (ho Dominion. 'Wellington, from its geographical position, is most suitable for such, being in touch through the Main Trunk Line with both north and south. There, are a great number of associations now in tho Dominion, who, 1 feel sure, would contribute to its funds. It would not only benefit Wellington, but it would benefit "breeders and buyers, because they would 'be able to see and purchase the best stock in tho Dominion procurable. There will be a conference shortly; wake "up, Wellington. You have tho energy and money, now is your chance. Thanking you in anticipation for publishing these few lines, and hope the chamber will consider the idea.—l am, etc., I.E.H.