THE “SMART” MAN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2239, 10 July 1908, Page 1

THE “SMART” MAN.

[CoiTospondoneo nil public matters, is welcomed at all times, but itnuist’ bo distinctly understood tliiitr® this journal is in ]io way associated/’with the opuiions of its eone.spomlents.j ,

' [TO THE EuiTOlt.] , ' Sir,—Yeti, friend ‘‘Pro Patria’lv but, with oil yourgenin'l banter ami gentle sarcasm, «t the La, turn of youi heart, and at tho back >u your real,, .thoughts, •.you'*-Jmo)v fuJl -well that 1 you yourself would honor and trust the man of 'old-fashioned integrity rather thaw whom tho multifl tmlo kow-low f " And ! ctuinob-yout credit at .least u lair proportion of your fellow creatures with similar realities in their true ideiil/jf, lniay bo a dear old silly; but I stick to it , that in tho oml tho man who conies out top an his fellow moil’s estimation (not acclamation, or glorification j but real, solid esteem) is the man who follows that , old-fashioned gentleman, l’aul of Tarsus, who, in his speech before Felix, said: “In this 1 exercise myself, to have a conscience void of offence towards God, and toward men.” It is that ido.il which made England, and would make New iZealand if her people will but follow it. 1 know it is. a totally different 'ideal of success in life to that held up by the multitude; but it is tho gentleman's ideal, English or Colonial!—I am, etc., r “HERETIC.” LAND SETTLEMENT. [To Tiie Editor.] Sir, —'During the recent debate on tho Address-in-Iteply on the Govern- ' nor’s speech, Mr Massey, the Loader of the Opposition, is reported to have stated that the To Arai settlement lias been purchased for £116,000, and let to Crown tenants 'for £160,000, thus making a profit, out of tenants of £II,OOO. The Premier and other members of the Government have tactfully refrained from replying to tho statement. It may bo that owing to favoritism, as lias boon too often the case, or otherwise, as usual the Government may have acquired it at too great a cost. Be that as it'may, I hold that the making of a profit- in this direction by the State is wrong and contrary to democracy and the best interests of the Dominion as,a whole. If it is, desirable, as it should be, that speculation and laud nionopoly should be prevented, it is improper oil the part of the Stato t 0 be making such large profits out of the concern, and this, notwithstanding, wo are represented by a member of the present Government, who, during liis long term, has never done anything to encourage closer settlement or to acquire largo estates for the purpose, and thus encouraging population of the kind, which is alone responsible for keeping Gisborne and Poverty Day in the back-ground so. long. We have seen in arid around Gisborne small tenant farmers on rackrenting private landlords, of the worst type to be found within tho Dominion or in the Old Country, living on the unearned increment of these dupes, many of whom are totally unable to make their rack rent on their holdings and are no better off after many years of toil and hardship' than when they entered into possession. Many of them are stilt oil the labor market competing against their fellow workers to earn the rack rent for the landlords. We have quite, sufficient of that sort of tiling in Poverty Bay, and the sooner the sweating evil :is legislated against, the bettor for all concerned and without n Government calling itself a Democratic Government sailing on the samo tack. i

V Poverty Bay is languishing l'or closer settlement and the bursting of largo estates by the Government. At a “Jive and let live” rent, then, and only then, will prosperity increase, the population increase, and the prosperity of Gisborne be assured for all time. No visitor to Gisborne can help' being struck with tlio magnificent district, which 'is second to none in the Dominion, but lacking one tiling, which is essential to the wellbeing and prosperity, namely, population of the right class and the acquisition of large estates by the Government. Wo find the lease in perpetuity is sadly wanted ill tlio district to prevent the few small remaining holdings from gradually going back into the hands of largo land owners. —I am. etc., K, RICHMOND. Gisborne, July G.