Correspondence

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 58, 3 November 1892, Page 2

Correspondence

IN REPLY TO " FAIR PLAY." LTO THE EDITOE OF THE STAB.]" SiRi — I ani not going to contradict anything that your correspondent, who, for shortness, I shall call " Airpay," says of ills father, or of himself, nor will I challenge his offer to supply us with cheap legislation. I reluctantly called him a turncoat, and mildly suggested that he was not one; and, if he wishes it, will now take back the word, but I will say that the suggestions he has thrown out for Messrs Wilson and Bruce's guidance seetn to me a trifle like being liberal with other people's money. I wished him to ask, " How does Tory legislation unmake country townships ? Which, in a way, he has asked, and to explain the mystery I beg to relate the following conversation which took place between two gentlemen from a neighbouring province on their way to Manawatu. Mr A., meeting Mr B. at a railway station, questioned and advised him thus : " Are you going to Manawatu to buy land? If so, do not buy land from the Government. Contrive to get a section amongst small farm settlers ; let them know that you can buy more land, and bide your time. All the beggars get into difficulties sooner or later ; and when they do, you can buy their improved proparties for less money than you could buy and improve the land yourself. That is how I managed to get mine, and I might make it much larger, but the Progressive Tax is now a menace to large estates." I will show the other side of the shield by relating what a storekeeper in a Wairarapa village said to myself, on my remarking that this town was going ahead ; " How," said he, " can it go ahead ? The country for scores of miles around is owned by men who are of as much good to us as absentees who live in London. They get all their station supplies and requirements from Wellington." To my mind it seems unsafe for people to multiply and increase in a country likely to be parcelled out in large estates ; but, as the people multiply and increase, Burely the multitude should support a Government that attempts to stop the large parcels, even if it does pay members the enormous sum of £250 per year. I am, &c., F.A.D-