Mr Lethbridge and the Rangitikei Seat

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 120, 18 November 1893, Page 2

Mr Lethbridge and the Rangitikei Seat

The Wellington Press says :— One of the most common-sense speeches we have yet read during the present contest is that of Mr F. Y. Lethbridge, a candidate for the Rangitikei seat, at Feilding. Following as it did on that of the Premier at the same place a fortnight previously, it was a marked contrast in the absence of claptrap, and appeals to the worst side of human nature. Being almost a native of the district and having his interests bound up in those of his neighbours, and having taken a more than common interest in local affairs ever since tho settlement of that thriving district, Mr Lethbridge is peculiarly fitted to understand the wishes and requirements of settlers under any sort of circumstances. On the question of the best methods of settling the forest lands of tbe colony he may be looked upon as an authority second to none, and his experience in such an important matter is well worthy of notice. He considers, as we do, that the continual tinkering with our land laws is harmful. Sales for cash he approved of for the very palpable reason that the purchasers had the means to employ those on deferred payment lands and perpetual leases. He felt tbat Government had, in the eternal lease system, thrown overboard their main plank of the State retaining the unearned increment He gave striking illustrations of the injustice of the regulations compelling residence on lands not yet capable of supporting the leaseholders, who would probably, during some months of the year, be efficient, if permitted, to earn better wages at their, trades, and thns have a nucleus year by year with which to gradually improve their holdings. He showed conclusively that, had it not been for the large landholders, the frozen meat and dairy industries would not have been iv the position they are to-day. He deprecated the policy of grabbing private lands for settlement while there was such an enormous area of Crown and Native lands still open for selection and settlement. It would be a cruelty, he considered, to the people who had bought their lands in the early days and took their lives into their hands against the natives to be now termed social pests, and threatened with "bursting .up." Mr R. ft. Bruce, the late member, in moving a vote of thanks at the close of Mr Lethbridge's address, said that after several years' experience of public men, the manner in which Mr Lethbridge had given his address would do credit to $py candidate in the colony. This eulogy from so good a judge as Mr Bruce is sufficient to indicate tbat the candidate under notice is a colonist well worthy of a seat in the legislature, and will be no mere voting machine if elected. : -