LAND MONOPOLY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8344, 3 February 1913, Page 6

LAND MONOPOLY

Land monopoly in this country is doomed! The -Hon* F. M. B. Fisher, in his “policy speech’’ at Hokitika, has decreed its extinction. Listen to this flamboyant declaration: “Tho Government wanted to break up the land monopoly, and thus provide for tho smaller settlor. He would recommend tho Prime Minister to experiment with some swamp land which had been brought under his notice that day. He felt sure that if such areas were drained and cultivated it would be valuable farming country.” But, in tho name of common sense, what has this swamp land at Hokitika to do with the question of land monopoly? Who is monopolising the swamps of Hokitika? And, even if they are being monopolised, who cares? What the country is concerned about is the intolerable land monopoly, in enormous areas, throughout Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, and other parte of New Zealand held almost exclusively for sheep grazing. The Hon. W. F. Massey has been talking clap-trap about putting small set-

tiers on the country north of AuckLuut which is already being settled without hm assistance, ami now tho Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, hi* heart overflowing with sympathy for tho landless multitude, has oum ] r il , -P;, fur them on tho .swamps of HoUt.ka. In tho meantime, the vast landed estates of Hawke’s Bay and other parts of New Zealand are, perfectly safe and secure from settlement under tho solicitous and protecting care ot soustyled Reform.