A VISITOR’S OPINION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1936, 19 November 1906, Page 2

A VISITOR’S OPINION.

PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT Melbourne, Nov 17. Mr Ramsay Macdonald, M.P., interviewed, said that New Zealand country with great possibilities, but required very careful management to secure prosperity. The general body of the people of New Zealand were going to carry on progressive legislation. The freehold system of land would require to be knocked on tbe head, for the freeholders were going to skim off the cream of the colony, The great problem for the Labor party to decide was the purchasing power of money. They had in the past concentrated too much attention on tho amount of wages received, and as a consequence overlooked the fact that while wages had inI creased the cost of living had gone up out of all proportion to wages. They would I be foolish if they tried to force up wages in keeping with the cost of living, for such a step would only further increase the cost of living. In this connection Mr McNab’s land policy came in with the elimination of the freeholder. That policy, ! if carried out, would eventually reduce the cost of living, and correspondingly increase the purchasing power of money. He thought New Zealand ought to very carefully consider whether it was wise in its protection policy. He had seen nothing in the circumstances of New Zealand to make a change in his opinion in regard to freetrade.