Prince Krapotkin.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 14 January 1892, Page 2

Prince Krapotkin.

Our cable news giving the particulars of a seizure of bombs for anarchial purposes, mentions, as further convincing proof of the dangerous character of the club, that prince Krapotkin has visited it recently. This prince is a radical and a thinker, but we are unaware that he has done anything more dreadful than to give his views on the labour question both by voice and writing. A year ago, in the Forum the prince replied to some criticisms of Mr Goldwin Smith', on Edward Bellamy, and he there contended that the limits of the production of nature are almost incalculable. He maintained that it was possible so to increase our food product that ten times the population could be supported on the same area that the present number now are, and he referred to the fact that in France such had been proved. He also instanced, as showing what can be done in raising cereals, that Mr Hallett r by a, simple selection of grains, will obtain in a few years a wheat which bears 10,840 grains en each stem grown from a single grain ; so that from 700 to 800 ojT,-liis stems of wheat, would give < the 4 yearly supply of bread for a fuJi^r&wn jjufson. The prince again instanced the Channel Islands, quoting that Guersey had 1,800 persons to the square mile, and has more unproductive soil than Jersey, but then Guernsey is practically roofed in. Each acre of greenhouse employs three men and the cost of erecting them is about ten shillings per square yard. He saw in time that large vineries will grow up around the coal pits of Northumberland, as coal was selling there at three shillings the ton.

He was anxious that' at the Chicago Exhibition a hundred acres should be covered with glass houses, forty acres to be devoted to flowers and tropical vegetation, the remainder to the plainest of vegetables and fruits. It would not cost the tenth of an Eiffel tower, and would fully repay the expense.

i^uch are some of the views of this dreaded prince Erapotkin, and they hardly read to lead one to suppose that he would incite men iio such dastardly deeds as the discharge of explosive bombs. The old adage " that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones" would seem to be most applicable in his case.