THE KAIKOURA STAR KAIKOURA, MARCH 11, 1902.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XXII, Issue 35, 11 March 1902, Page 4

THE KAIKOURA STAR KAIKOURA, MARCH 11, 1902.

Speaking at a public welcome accorded at Capetown to delegates returned from England, Sir Gordon Sprigg (Premier of Cape Colony) said that 21 years ago, when m England, he laid before a member of Gladstone’s Cabinet the state of affairs then existing in South Africa. That gentleman (still alive) heard him (Sir Gordon) patiently to the end, agreed that the scuttle over Majuba was a mistake, and added : ‘ I am (quite convinced that you are right when you tell me that the whole of the work will have to be done over again. I feel sure that you rightly judge the affairs of South Africa, but ’ (and this was a melancholy statement) ‘You must make allowance for our position with our party in the House of Commons.’ Thus for party reasons alone the best interests of the Empire in South Africa had been sacrificed. But, ‘ Never more.’ The difference between large, estates in England and the Crown estates in this Colony today is sc; vast that most people will argue that there is no comparison thai it is idle to institute any. True , in theory, jierhaps. But let the matter be viewed in a truly comparative sense. First take into consideration the difference in the

age (to put it that way) between England and New Zealand —taking the time from England’s first King, Egbert, in the year 882). This gives us nearly 1100 years. Earth-hunger is strong today and is daily becoming stronger. There is an almost ravenous desire to obtain land, and, it is well to note, that desire is not confined to the landless. The covetousness of not a few large landed proprietors is of a nature almost akin to idolatry which, indeed, it is toa certain extent. It is the duty of the State to put an efficient check upon such inordinate desires, else there will be seen a repetition of some of the evils prevailing in England. There the pernicious effects of land monopoly are seen in a degree little imagined by many colonists. Here is one marked example. The Beaufort Estates, in Monmouthshire, sold during the last two years, included 24,000 acres which realised £626,000. A large proportion of that amount really belongs to the State, yet an individual has reaped the profit. Prevention of private harvesting of that nature is incumbent upon the Legislature of this Colony.