THE LAND QUESTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2052, 12 April 1907, Page 1

THE LAND QUESTION.

“WILD SOCIALISM IN THE TOWNS.”

Sir William Russell, who was recently on a visit to Christchurch, when approached by reporters, proved more anxious to talk about the possibilities of Hawke’s Bay as a fruit-growing centre than to discuss politics, but the consideration of fruitgrowing, as an occupation for the smal lsettler, seemed' a natural introduction to the interviewer’s question as to what Sir William thought of the Rand Bill.

“I have not altered my views on the laud question,” he said, “since I expressed them in the House. I am as anxious as anyone can be to see the people comfortably settled on the land. I should be delighted if the men who are now talking wild socialism in the towns would got out to their farms in the country, but I should like to see them get there without doing injustice to anyone; without harassing the man who is already on the land; and without frightening people who are ready to invest money in the country. 1 believe this could be done,

“The great landowners in Hawke’s Bay, as we have been called, have been painted as a wicked, selfish lot of fellows; but, as a matter of fact-, we bear quite a good reputation with our employees; and, according to our lights we lpvre done something towards facilitating the settlement of the country. “I don’t know that the Land Bill will do a great deal more. It may

haston the ‘bursting up’ of sin estate here und there by a year or two, but the process of subdivision is always going on as it is, and probably by the lime Mr. McNab gets his machinery into operation ho will find that there is very little for it to do. At present, however, I do not know what the machinery is going to be—--1 doubt if Mr. McNab knows himself his colleagues certainly do not; and 1 had better reserve any criticism till we are all better informed.” Sir William admitted that he still felt capable of rendering some service to the country, and that he had not abandoned all idea of re-entering Parliament. Ho would much rather sco some younger men of his own way of thinking, “at any rate, quite as radical,” in the field, but he did not. intend to let the next election in his own district go by default. It. was a great pity that the capable men of the younger generation wore showing so little disposition to take np public life. They were clearly failing in their duty to the State. He did not wish to underrate the good work that was being done by the members of the present Opposition, or to ignore the sacrifices they were making; but new blood was sady wanted jn file party, and he would look upon his own defeat at' the last election ns a real blessing, as it made room for the advent of some earnest, young politician, who would bear a capable part in the Government of the country.