“BANQUETS AT POSTERITY’S EXPENSE.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8344, 3 February 1913, Page 8

“BANQUETS AT POSTERITY’S EXPENSE.”

To the Editor "N.Z. Times." Sir, —Mr Massey, on his North Is' land tour, has been receiving banquets by the dozen, and nobody laughs. Having passed a Bill in the last session enabling 8500 leaseholders to get the freehold, no wonder at it. If he increased boot tariffs by 50 per cent. I think the New Zealand boot manufacturers would be inclined to banquet him. He evidently thinks ho is settling the land question by giving the freehold, but ho is making it worse. I doubt if there is on© per cent, of these settlers, when, by the communities’ efforts the unimproved land value has risen to such a price, that they can make a living without working for it, will refuse it. So that by giving 8500 settlers “security of tenure,” as he calls it, he is probably making as many landlords of the future. What chance has a youth, like myself, of getting on the land in the future, when land values in New Zealand are increasing at the rate of £10,000,000 annually-' It is all very well giving the freehold if yon have a stiff unimproved land tax behind it to keep the owners working instead of shirking, and this Mr Massey has not got. Banquets! No wonder, when it has made Mr Brighton, of Waior, a present of £36,000 at the community’s expense. —I am, etc., HENRY G. RICHARDSON. .Wellington, January 30th.