IMPRESSIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1262, 18 October 1911, Page 4

IMPRESSIONS.

NORTH ISLAND AND POLITICS. BY SOUTHERN OBSERVER. (By Telcerarh.-EDC-ciaJ OorroeoondenU Christchurch, October IG. Mr. D. Jones, organiser for the Farmers' Political Protection Federation, who has returned to Christohurch after a lecturing tour in tho Wellington and Hawke's Bay province, told a "Press" reporter to-day that one could not help being etruck by the enormous area of good country in the North Island. "The Prime Minister," continued Mr. Jones, "states that ho is unable to buy land at reasonable prices, but 1 am quite satisfied that any sharp business man could get options over several thousands of ncre-s in Wellington and Hawke's Bay at rMtonable prices—properties that arcnow on the market. It is all nonsense saying that no land is available when the Government's own figures prove that their valuations for taxation purposes nro 31 per cent, below actual sales.' Mr. Jones went on to state that poll--tics were very much in tho air in the north at present, and tho North Island was going to settle tho land tenure question in favour of Iho freehold, even without the assistance of Mr. Laurenson's conversion. Many of the Government candidates were supporting pkinks that the Government had always opposed, especially in connection with tha freehold and tho compulsory pnrchaM of Maori lands.

"I" the north," continued Mr. Jones, "one sees many illustrations of tho eitravaganco of our co-operative labour system, and tho feoling is very strong amongst those who have watched its operations that it should be discontinued. I was over the ground of tho Hakohino Viaduct, on the Mara Trunk line, just beyond Huntcnillc, and I was shown by < lie settlers a place where the State- had carted for many weeks (with wagons) one rail at a time over ten miles of hogiQronds, sometimes taking two days for the trip. If tho railway had boon pushed on a further three miles before tho construction of tho viaduct began, tho whole of tho material could havo been 6e.nt by rail. The tendor for that viaduct was about .£50,000, but it is estimated it cost the Government (with cooperative labour) about double that amount."

It wns regrettable, Mr. Jones said, to foe the way in whioh public opinion had been demoralised by our present svstem of grants in tho annual Public Works Statement. One chairman of a local tody put it to him thusi, "I will support the present Government as long as tJioy are in, and I'll just «s stronzly ■support the Opposition if they pet in. It is the best system to ease tho finances of your local body." Undoubtedly, commented Sir. Jones, some drastic 'chango required if we were poing to havo P\ ln ty of government in 'New Zealand. Ihe present srstwn pavo tho Government of the day the power to buy and wll electorates at will.

In reply to a Question, Mr. Jones 6tated that it was difficult to forecast the result i>l the elections in the north. One of tne_ ehief complaints there was the inBinotrity of the Government in connection with land settlement, and .tho weak and vaciUntrn;; way in which they were changing on policy questions was such that the eonntry really did not know what tho policy of the Government was, or, if flwy had any policy. The Labour party did not seem to be united, and ivere not certain whether, in tho second ballot, it would bo wiso to support the Government or tho Opposition. The restilt of the elections would largely hinge on the ivay in which their vote went.