ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the "New Zealand Spectator."

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 713, 2 June 1852, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the " New Zealand Spectator."

Sir, — Observing a letter signed ' Poor Man,' ! in, the Independent paper of 26th current,; I should like to make a few remarks on it ; and if you will allow me a portion of your' columns I will proceed. In the first place, ' Poor Man 'is In great hones the Independent is about to discuss a vital principle in colonization. I should only, refer him tp^an .article copied from Bell's Weekly Messenger into your paper of Saturday, the 29 1 h, on Protection and Free Trade. ' Poor Man,' and the colony at large, would do well 1 to read, study, and- take a lesson from that article, and they will know that it is not the Wakefield system that retards the progress or prosperity of the man without means. lam of opinion, that the man who happens to be the owner of land or stock is just as useful as' the poor man, if not more so, but I think it is at least clear to all, that the one is nothing without the other; I am not awaie if there has been a time that such was the case, unless we go back to lhe primitive state of man and woman, when they had only figleaves for their clothing :— justgive a ' Poor Man' and his wife a week of this, and I have not the least doubt but they would try and find out where Moses & Sons live, or some other slop shop. But to the. point, I don't think it makes much difference to a man of limited means whether he pays for the land 2d. or £2 % per acre. Can he make it pay ? — That is , the question he has to look at. I am not. a bit convinced that the Wakefield system created only land owners — it also created labour,. and brought large numbers of people to the colony who in all probability would, at this day.,, have been the inmates of workhouses or other such asylums, but who through the instrumentality of the landowners are now breathing the pure balmy aircf New Zealand and are in the greatest prosperity : in -fact, -in such- circumstances as they could never Have hoped to be in in the old country. New, I should ju^t like to know how much land Mr. ' Poor Man ' would like, and at what figure, and. should he getit at bis own price, (say nothing,) how much money he. would take to go at it, and then what 'his taters are" a'ewt., when he would cease growling, and when he would cease -to say -he was poor.- I think I see him "glimmering at his homestead" in the distance, and 1 be.ir the urchins calling' " there he goes with -his eye out !" This is about the nighest picture I can figure to myself in New Zealand after a stay of upwards of twelve years, and/ 1 scarcely have seen a poor man unless become so by his own profligate and dissolute habits. I should like to, give "Poor Man" my opinion as to what is' likely to, and how his prosperity is, retarded, and ' how the landowners and capitalists are, -excluded from a fair field for their energies. ' If he has only one eye, let, him look at the small fact which I, shall direct his one eye to, and I doubt "not he will sac as clearly as those who possess this faculty to the fullest extent. I shall suppdse f liim to be a free man,' and the man of capital free also, — that the land is freedom itself,' though in places heavily timbered. Now, here is the rub. Will ' Foot Man ' put bis labour to compete with the convicted felon of a penal settlement ?, or will the capitalist place bis capital iir competition with those of a penal country, and one that has been by convict labour cleared, fenced, and cropped for the* last half century ? It can't be done even with all the advantage of superiority of toil and climate. But let your government restrict your importation of foreign flour, which , is fatal .both to - native and European, and let them cease to send the thousands away annually for that. article. This done for a period of years, we might compete with any country. Then should we have. capitalists,. and labourers might come, and .find a gocd field for industry. In conclusion, respecting, the.." large landed proprietor's " alleged quotation at public meeting assembled, I shall not dirty paper to repeat it ; at the same time, if " Poor Man " will allow me, I may state that I have been as I have said, upwards of twelve years in the settlement, and I ne"ver heard any large proprietor "toake any such statements. 1 "firmly' believe that all who read ' Poor Man's ' letter (himself • excepted) were of opinion that it was on bis part aninjustice to the colony, and a gross perversion of truth' to make such a statement, -and that such was a. disgrace to be put, in the columns of any journal, British or Colonial. Trusting ' Poor Man- will turn his talents to better account, and not allow his abilities to be wasted on such falsified notions. 1 am, your's;&c'., . _ wr ,_ NO EANDED PROPRIETORS Wellington," June 1^1852. '\