PRODUCTION AND LAND VALUES.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2400, 4 March 1915, Page 9

PRODUCTION AND LAND VALUES.

Sir,—l beg space to reply to "Agricola's" letter in yqur issue of Thursday last. After patting the farmers on the hack for their record export of produce for 1914, ho bemoans the fact that£2s,ooo,ooo of community-created land values has passed into the pockets of individuals m the; last .ten years,.and advocates a heavy laud tax'as an antidote. If that were done it would wean our Now Zealand town .'community would no doubt- rejoice. .But I would ask, - What have they done to produce the above sump Very little. "Agricola" may be an educated man, .but he has forgotten there was an inventor of tho refrigerator. He has forgotten that it is the overseas millions who buy our exports. He has forgotten that the early settlers toiled and slaved in bush,, scrub, and mud, and danger from the Maoris, and possibly had. the greatest share in making New Zealand what it is to-day. These in the main are 'the "moneyed aristocrats,", to quote "Agricola," "whose wealth is their only recommendation." He is either totally, ignorant of land history in New Zealand or a man with little shame. I think it is want of_,knowledge that is the trouble. He talks of a farmer buying dairying land at £100 an acre, and having no time for improving it. Dairying land at £100 per acre could scarcely be of profitable improvement. "Agricola" would- like to see his land tax expended, so that schools, colleges, and universities would be free to all. 1 wonder what the. cost of living would rise to should this come to pass. Our New Zealand oollege youth havo proved themselves anything but shining successes as everyday toilers. The same farm slavery "Agricola" so much deplores'produced , a race of'men and women in the past with whom the pampered youth of to-day cannot compare. Ideals are splendid things in their waypleasant' to. dream about, but. our friend has more faith in them than I have. It seems to me that if you want a strong, thrifty, healthy, and happy people it is necessary for them to be reared among hardships and meet plenty of adversity in their young days. The road to strength lies in meeting and overcoming obstacles by long hours of labour, not. by unending luxury and turning night into day m the continuous rUsh after .pleasure and- .excitement that, seems to be the sole aim of so many in our ritics at. w#«eat une._

"Agricola" touohos very lightly on our future dofencos, and liftvbig beon in touch with and taking a keen interest in our Noiv Xoalniu] dcfoncos for some 25 years past, I would liko to leave this to another lottor. In conclusion if our friend will como to Makuri I will &how him land that will return upwards. of 10 per cent. on. the price asked, ticking threo successive seasons, th.at is, if ho is not afraid to faco some of the mud that the "r ineyod aristocrats" faced in the past, and that many of them aro still facing.—l am, etc., : A. J. CAMERON. Malruri, Puhiiitua,