WORKERS' HOMES.

NZ Truth, Issue 110, 27 July 1907, Page 4

WORKERS' HOMES.

A Workers' Homes and Land Settlement League was recently formed m Masterton. The main objects of the League are to secure the establishment of a system whereby the workers of Masterton, who wish to acquire homes, may do so on reas-ona-ble terms and conditions ; also to adViofr-i/tc.'' the closer settlement of rural lands. Of course, the League is condemned by Masterton "Times," owned and edited by Joe Paton, Chow advocate and crusted Tory. Joe sees m this organisation a menace to his cherished Building Society, although he does not mention it, but attacks tbe platform of rural settlement. Paton has often •slangwanged the Government for not procuring land for settlement m the vicinity of Masterton, yet when- a League is formed- to effect that object, he (rets rid of this m his remarkable sheet :— "lt is inevitable that closer settlement, must come to this electorate. Can the process be accomplished without wrong and injustice to pioneer settlers who have lawfully acquired, or become possessed of, considerable areas ?" Appar-r-ntiy Paton's agitation for close settlement, m t/lie past was insin-

cere, seeing that ho now places this obstacle m the way, and it was merely carried on to influence popularfeeling against the Government, and he didn't, mean it. The curse of Wairarapa to-day is the huge estates, held by a few persons, and many of which were mopped up from the natives m tho early days for an occasional blanket or a bottle of rum, or perhaps a missionary's prayer. Major Brown, a native chief m the Lower Valley, has had ample reason for regarding the preacher and his prayer' with the utmost irreverence. As put by the dark person himself - "Te parson, he say, look up ; see tc Lord : and when you look up he collar all your land." There are many persons m the Wairarapa "who have lawfully acquired, or, become possessed, of, "considerable areas," who do not court the fullest inquiry into the circumstances .of the early titles to the land. This land, is to be acquired for close settlement, • and will be so acquired m- time to come, so that tho grabbers might just as well become reconciled to the inevitable. It is perhaps not singular that Paton should have also opposed the Masterton Anti-Asiatic League with great violence. Ho loves the Chow and the big landlord— they run m double harness.