The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, NOV 24, 1906.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1941, 24 November 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, NOV 24, 1906.

The position of the English farmer in his competitive struggle with importers of foreign produce has found some expression in the report of the Tariff Commission which we published yesterday, wherein it is recommended that “ further facilities for land purchase ” be granted, What can our colonial leaseholders have to say to that ? There is probably no country in the world where every system of leasehold tenure that human ingenuity could devise has been given a fairer chance than in England, and we can now interpret the recommendation of the Commission only as an emphatic condemnation of those systems in favor of granting tho freehold to the farmer. And for what reason ? Simply this, that it is found that the English farmer cannot compete with other countries under any system of leasehold, and the foreign agriculturist is enabled to dump his produce down at the very door of the Briton at a prico which the British agriculturist finds unremuuerative in producing similar articles. As a temporary expedient, no doubt, the Commission recommends a protective duty on foreign wheat of Gd per cwt. and 3d on colonial, 15 per cent on flour, 5 to 10 per cent on foreign butter, cheese, poultry, and eggs, with a margin in favor of colonial articles, and a tariff advantage to the Home producer on maize, barley, oats, and rye, so as to enable him to make a profit out of these articles and so successfully use his farm under the system of loasehold until the freehold facilities are within his reach. The advocates of the leasehold may urge that the system of tenure is not the real cause of the English farmers’ troubles, and they will possibly advance the argument that the rents ’ are too high because of the higher value of the land: but, singular to relate, the price of freehold land in this colony is even higher than it is in England, and yet tho New Zealand dairy farmer and grain grower can from bis high-priced freehold produce these articles, pay freight and other charges upon them, and undersell the English leaseholder. Why is it ? It is simply because a lease is a negotiable document in the hands of the man who does not want to farm the land, and the man who wants to possess one with the idea of farming the land has to compete to the highest pitch of the market for the possession of it, and when he gets it he never forgets that only the piece of parchment is his while the land is another’s, and it is treated accordingly ; whereas, if the land as well as the parchment were the property of the farmer himself quite a different method of farming would be adopted, and the “ heart ” would not be taken out of the land. So much money and labor can be put into a farm to keep it “ sweet ” and profitable in future years that no man feels inclined to risk it under any system of leasehold short of a 999 years’ tenure, and that is just what has ruined English farming and left tho land in its present condition incapable of its maximum production without expensive treatment that will not recoup the farmer until after a long series of years, and he is not fool enough to try the experiment. Tho same conditions will obtain in New Zealand if the leaseholders get their way, for the leaseholder has never the same interest in his holding that the freeholder has, and the result upon our foreign produce trade will be most disastrous. This colony ha 3 struggled hard enough to secure a position in the English markets ; but if the producers are reduced to the position of the English farmer of to-day in regard to tenure they will find themselves in a worse position by and bye, and the colony as a whole will suffer accordingly. Landlordism has never bean a success in any country, and it has ruined Ireland and driven her people to tho point of revolution uotil the British Government was forced to devise a scheme of freehold tenure.

But in doing that the Government did not even suggest a scheme of State landlordism, nor would it have been acceptable to the people had it been suggested, for State landlordism is even more pernicious than private

landlordism unloss freehold is absolutely abolished. Eveu then its benefits nro more tlmn doubtful; but to mix up froohold with State loesohold tonures is to give one man an advant.ugo which another cannot possess. A multiplication of State tonomonts iutorsporsod with freeholds , is nothing short of a menace to purity of government for tho nimplo reason that any com! nation of tenants work-

ing for a common purpose in regard to tho terms of their holdings is a thing that no Government could withstand if tho membership is numorous enough to onforco its claims, and nothing is moro natural than tho formation of such combination whon prices are low and markets dull. It is then and thou only that grievances would bo lilcoly Ito arise; and tho inevitable conso-

(juouces of an airing of those grievances would bo first, combination, and then a pulling of the political strings, intrigue, and logrolling from which tho Stato would be certain to etnergo on tho losing side.

Mr H. Howes will leoluro at Townloy’s Hall to-morrow night. Mr A. Rioo is steadily rooovoring from his eorious illness.

Tho Matawbero siook salon will bo held on Thursday. Tho monthly mooting of tho Harbor Board takos plaoo on Monday. A mooting of the School Gommittoo was to hovo boon hold last night, but aftor waiting for an hour for a quorum without t'uoctas the mooting lapsed.

Lieut. Oaloott (Salvation Army), who loft Gisborno somo 12 months ago to enter tho Salvution Army Training College, Melbourne, returned last Wednesday to

ppend a few wooks. Tho lieutenant will give an address at the Army barracks tomorrow night. The band will play speoial items at tho different servioes. Tho following passengers leave this morning for north by tho s.a. Mokoia : Mtssos Gillard, Btovons, Knight, and Jonos, Mesdameß Smith, Murphy, Knight, Seymour and child, and R. N. Jones, Messrs Fraser, Boys, Foster, Oulpan, Oxenbam, Dewing, Angovo, Long, and Master Seymcur, A lady, resident at Whataupoko, was knocked down last night by a cyclist, who rode through from the right of way Dear I the Timijs offioo as the lady was passing by on tbo footpath. Sbe was kneeked down on her back, and not boing in robust health sufferod severely from tho shock, The accident ooourrod about 11 p.m., when people wero returning from tho play-

Mails despatched from Auckland via San Francisco on October 19th arrived in London on November 21st.

Fine weather was general throughout New Zealand yesterday, but at 9 a.m. Captain Edwin advised, “ rain probable.” A happy party of bushmen drove into town yesterday, as merrily singing as if they were a football team fresh from a victorious field.

A first-class investment in house property is offered, two new 5-roomed houses, built of kauri, with all conveniences, boing obtainable at JE299 each. The address of the seller can bo obtained at the Times office.

At Wesley church to-morrow Mr Park will preach in the morning, and Rev. C, Griffin in the evening, when the subject will be, “ A Bad Bargain.” At tho Baptist Tabernacle to-morrow tho Rev D. Parry will discourse in the morning on “ A Great Possession," and in tho evening his topic will be “ The Popularity of Christ.” The quarterly meeting of the Licensing Committee takes place on December 7th, when the following adjourned applications will bo dealt withßenewal of publican’s license, A. M. Manning, Rose Hotel; renewal of accommodation house license, Christian Hansen, Motu Hotel; application for trausfer from Cornelius O’Connell to George P. Priestley, Waerenga-a-hika Hotel.

With regard to the paragraph appearing in last issue with referenoe to first offenders and Mr Barton’s oensure of the police, it has since transpired that a conviction for drnnkenness had been reoorded in 1893, thirteen years ego; Mr Barton announood this from the Bench yesterday, pointing out that had he mads a mistake ho would have been quite willing to acknowledge it, and to havo stated it publicly. He did not often mako a mistake, and wbeu bo mads the statement there was no doubt whatever in his mind that the offender had been before him before.

The Salvation Army hold their annuel anniversary toa next Thuredey, evening. His Worship tho Mayor will preside. Brigadier A'biston, Major Twyford, and Bmdmaster Tremain will arrive by next Wednesday’s boat from South to take part in the anniversary services. Tho tea will bo followed by a grand musioal meeting on Thursday evoning. The following are tho latest new connections with the Gisborne Telephone Exchange:—l66, J. S. Barton, Titoki, Makauri (one long and two short rings) ; 216, H. J. Peaoooke and 00., timber merobnnts, Carnarvon street; 330, Common, Shelton and 00., grocery and ironmongery department; Peel street ; 394, Ohas. Busoko, commission agent, Good’s Buildings. The following aro deleted : 166, W. L. Oates, Makauri; 270, Post Office; 330, Licensed Victuallers’ Association. Alter to read: 142, Makaraka Hotel (A. F, Saunders), three long rings.

Tho shark “ Kruger,” which is supposed to have made Sponge Bay his summer hauntfor seventeen years past, is due again in that quarter next week. A tremendous amount of energy has been expended in the efforts to capture Kruger, to say nothing of the perils encountered and the good bait served up to the voracious monster —for all declare it to be the same brute paying a yearly visit—but failure has attended every effort. Kruger has simply accepted the good things provided, hooks in- j eluded. In the coming season all previous efforts are to be exceeded, and already preparations are being made to entice the shark to its doom. Scouts will be on tho look out next week lor the unwelcome and yet in one souse welcome visitor.