THE MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2097, 25 January 1908, Page 1

THE MINISTERIAL VISIT.

[To the Editor.] Sir, —The Minister for Lands in his interview with your reporter expressed .regret"-at not meeting more of the farmers of the district. Tho fact of the matter is, very few of the farmers have any great Jove for the Minister or the Government lie represents. That is why the farmers give him a wide berth. Wliat have ‘the Government done for us, except increaso our taxation from year to year, so r that to hold a ileccutsized farm now, and pay the land tax, and also the graduated land tax, makes it almost unbearable, ind simply means working for the Government, who toil not, neither do they spin; and now that the Liberal Government have given us the privilege of fixing our own land values we are between the devil and' the deep sea. If we fix it low the Government steps in and takes it; if we fix it high, we increase our own taxation. Truly, tho farmers of _ this district have a lot to bo thankful to the Government for. Then look at the way they propose dealing with the small grazing ruii-lioklers. -un who were induced to take up those bush blocks 21 years ago, with a pros-

poet of a renewal laid down in the Act, which you quoted l a lew days ago. 'After putting in 21 years’ hard labor in the back-blocks, reel liming tlie wilderness, and making for. themselves a smiling homestead, they are to be tinned adrift to make room for the stranger, who knew not Joseph, but who will no doubt bo a Government supporter, and help to keep tlie present land pirates in power. Is it any wonder we love tlie Government? There are always some people in a district that will toady after the Minister, especially if they can got a piece of somebody elso’s property on tlie cheap, but the independent bona fide farmer is not one of that class, and that is nil- bo few of them met the Minister'of Lands.—l am, etc., A FREEHOLD FARMER.