CORRESPONDENCE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 July 1913, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Our correspondents' opinions are their own; the responsibility of editorial ones makes sulficiont ballast for the editor's shoulders.] A CALL TO ACTION. (To the ►Sir,—Three years ago at my initiative a .Fruitgrowers' Association was formed in Levin, with the aim of establishing a fruit industry in the district. It is beyond doubt that such an industry would greatly help to increase the prosperity of the district and the. town. "We have indisputable examples in Hawke's Hay, Nelson, and other provinces. Our geographical position, splendid climate and soil have proved to bo eminently suitable for .such an industry, 'and it is deplorable to see how little is the support that our association has received. A New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Association has been formed. AVe have been requested to .join, but oHving to our small membership we are unable to do so. Under the auspices of our Association, Government experts have given here public demonstration of planting, pruning, spraying, packing, etc. Our pioneer members have freely expounded their knowledge. experience and advice to all. personally or by liberal support of our local press. AVe have been the means of obtaining from the Experimental Farm the free distribution of over 300 splendid fruit trees which otherwise would have been destroyed. Two of our members attended at their own expense, the Conference in Wellington, and gained valuable information. Many have benefited by our Association, but how many have accorded us their support? In Levin, lam sorry to say, anything that has an odour of sanctity is liberally patronised, but what is materially good for men and country is shamefully ignored. How can our town prosper under such conditions? t should very much like to hoar somebody else's opinion on the matter. In this hope I remain, yours, etc., MARCO FOSELLA.

1 (Continued from Pago 3.) tho right of foreclosure. They could bo left iu possession until tho property is sold, or the sale could tako place with tho consent of tho Commissioner of Taxes, as in the case when lees than 15 per cent, passes between the buyer and seller of land, tho Commissioner has the right to sanction tho sale. Foreclosure here is conducted in cjuito a different way than in Great Britain. A mortgagee, by giving notice to the mortgagor that he will take over the property, can enter and do so. But here he has to sell through the Registrar of the Supremo Court, or ho could not got a, title. The Registrar guards tho mortgagor's interests by only agreeing to the sale, if the time ami terms are suitable, thus tho best chance is given to securo the highest price, so that tho owner is really protected to a much great©? extent than ho is elsewhere. Nor is thoro tho slightest likelihood of anyone in New Zealand adopting this means for tho aggregation of land, especially so as the State has the right to resume it. There does not seem much chance of any alteration being made, judging by the proceedings in the Housa, but, all the same, if members only knew it, it is distinctly in the interests of money-lenders and lawyers that things should remain as they are. Theso lands probably pay an additional £200,000 for interest per annum. Tho State can lend on these lands, but tho difficulties and delays of borrowing money from any State Dopartmont—when they have the money which is not always tho ense —mostly result ia the morgagee boing taken up by privato individuals. MEANS OF ACCESS. I have said that the man who takoK up land should bo given the best access to it the State can afford. Tho means adopted to givo this access is causing a great deal of discussion. In many districts in Now Zealand metal for roads is unobtainable, or has to be carted great distances. Iu .such country, if it is rough or broken in character, the road costs a large sum per chain. This makes tho clamour for light railways louder every year. Some however arguo that tho coming mode of traction is the internal combustion motor, and that to' spend much nionoy on railways as feeders to tho main lines would l>e a great mistake. This pre-supposes that (1) roads can bo made to earn- the traffic, and (2) that the upkeep of tho road will he less than tho interest on the cost of a light railway. Tho motor traffic on a road is very destructive; the binding material is driven away, and tho main roads, where much used by motors., are year by year becoming increasingly costly. The commercial motor at Homo is increasing the cost of the upkeep of the roads enormously. It is quite possible that both means will eventually bo adopted. Motor traffic where roads can be made and : maintained cheaply, and light railways where tho roads arc too costly. The man who can solve the question of how* to give speedy access to the outward fringe of the settlement will be conferring an immonse boon on the people of New Zealand. The Minister of Public "Works stated that Mr Furkort. a very capable and colonial trained engineer, has gone home, and ho has been instructed to make an inspection of tho Belgian system of light railways, and report as to whether they are suitable for our requirements. Mr Edwin Hall has suggested a mono-rail as a means of cheaply overcoming the difficulty, and i cannot help thinking that a few miles of this system might bo imported to show the people at the Auckland Exhibition, for it is largely in tho Auckland Province that tho greatest difficulties have to bo overcome. IMMIGRATION. The question of immigration of boys has 'been the subject of a considerable amount of correspondence between tho Union and tho Minister, but nothing so far has been arranged. 1 am afraid that there is some friction between tho new Immigration Department and tho Labour Department in connection with it, as shown by tho evidence given before the Dominion's Commission. It has "boon .suggested, that suitable farm labourers should bo selected by special officers and the passago provided at low rates. lam afraid, however, that this would not succeed as well as wo could wish. Good agricultural labourers are scarce at Homo. They have been leaviiig the country for Canada by many thousands per week, and it lias had the effect of raising the wages of those remaining very materially. They are engaged for six months, and at tho last hiring wages had increased all over Scotland and England. More and more inducement will be made to keep tho good ones. Boys carefully selected at Homo and brought out under personal supervision, and put' to service under a Goivernment Department, who would act as guardian, has already succeeded, and I hope the Minister will sco his way to continue this importation. Ho is especially .to be commended for arranging that domestics will ho placed under tho care of responsible peoplo on landing.

Mr S'odguick has been indefatigable in keeping this subject before the public, and had several interviews with tho Hon. Mr Allen and Sir "Walter Buchanan at Homo. It ha.s been suggested that the boys should be sent to a training farm before they como out here, but the general opinion, both in Australia and here, is that the best training frtnn is to put them out to work. Sometimes wo are apt to bo discouraged by tho apparent want of support our Union reoeives from tho farmers, but it must bo remembered that we do not want preference to unionists in others, and cannot have it in our union; but I think on the whole when they once back up tho work done and achieved, will not be dissatisfied with the part we have taken in moulding tlw destinies of our country.