THE OTAKI SEAT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1542, 11 September 1912, Page 4

THE OTAKI SEAT.

Sir,—\our article in "Notes of the Hay on tho Cost of Living Commission culls for a little comment, becauso the member for Otaki figures in it. It was cm his platform in Koikioraugi. where he' had a land policy, viz., to nationalise all lands. This)' was before tht first ballot (on December 4 your paper, Titj: DoMi.n-' io.v, classed, one of the nine Socialists of Now Zealand), but before the second ballot your paper classed Mr. Robertson as a Labourite. Tliat was when von found tho two Reform candidates defeated Now, Sir, what I cannot understand is why you make such a song about taxing the increment value of land (seeing that tho land policy was tho onlv no-con-hdence motion that Mr. Massey could move against Sir Joseph Ward). When you find squatters and. would-be' squatters clamouring to support a Socialist (who told us in Reikiorangi, in answer to a question, the only interest he had in New Zealand was his wife and six-vear-old child), m preference to » farmer and a freeholder at that. Now, Sir, vou admit that farmers like a square deal. I will admit I do; but can you or tho present Prime Minister tell mo where the fair deal was when the notorious telegram, supposed to have come from Mr. Massey, to support tho' Socialist, in preference to ono that is a freeholder and supported the freehold in the House, and not like the Earl of Wellington CentValplatfonn leaseholder, House freeholder, ' Don t know where ye arc." The cry was, Wo want Ward out, which was a poor excuse, as Mr. Robertson was just as much against Mr. Massey as ho was against Sir Joseph Ward.—l am, etc., ■ '.'. J. T. KENT. ■ Keikiorangi. [Tho leason for Reformers supporting Mr. Robertson, instead of Mr. Field,'was as niost: people know, that the first need of the moment was the removal of the Spoils Government from office. As matters have turned out, it is' quite reasonable to suggest that Mr. Field would have proved a better member for a country constituency'than the sitting member We believe ho would.]