IN BAD COMPANY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8351, 11 February 1913, Page 6

IN BAD COMPANY

Attempts are being made in some directions to deny that the self-styled Reform Government and the large landowners have anything in common. It is protested with great noise and circumstance that the Masseyites are not the friends of the squatters and that Masseyism, or “Reform,” is really out for closer settlement by smashing up the big estates. In proof, the “increase” in the graduated land tax schedule is pointed to with confidence, as well as the fact that there is not one solitary squatter in the Government. To all of which we answer, “Fudge.” No greater fake has been put upon the community by the most embarrassed Ministry that ever sat in New Zealand than the Massey-Alien graduated land tax, coupled with the watering down of the valuation system. The taxation scheme is purely a shop-window dodge, and is certainly not designed to cause the great land monopolists any sleepless nights. Xu fact, the rate of increase, is actually less on big estates than on those of small or moderate value. We may begin to believe in the Government’s alleged lack of sympathy with squatterdom when it ceases to take its policy from the squatters’ organ, or when Ministers no longer keep company with the great landholders. When there is a substantial increase in the actual sum yielded to the State by way of graduated land tax or else an appreciable lessening of the present acute land huuger friends of “Reform” may revive their story of Masseyism versus Squatterdom. For the present, Ministers are very likely to he judged by their associations and history, A party that gives honoured places in its ranks—if not portfolios—to gentlemen like Mr George Hunter and Mr H. M. Campbell, and selects the member for Wairarapa for titular distinction, can only rid itself of the stigma of squatterdom by passing through the grim ordeal of experience and test. If Mr Massey and his colleagues aro not in svmpathv with the land monopolists they should quit their company and dispense with their tutelage.