LAND TENURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 23

LAND TENURE.

i DEFENDING THE FREEHOLD. APPEAL TO WOMEN. ' (From Oub Own Coebsspondent.) I AUCKLAND February 17. | Amongst the speakers at Mr Massey's garden party on Saturday was the veteran Mr R. Monk, and ho made an interesting 1 point in regard to unearned increment. I He asked the particular attention of the ladies, and fcaid there was a question now demanding the consideration of the best in the land, and the ladies must take it up. The adult franchise of women, which they had enjoyed so long in New Zealand, was ' the world's novelty to-day. — (Applause.) He I wanted th© women of New Zealand to show that in their hands democracy could become pure and true — (applause), — and he wanted them to stand out and take a chief place in this great fight that Mr Maescy was engaging in, for it was a vital question for every woman who was helping her i husband to establish a home for their chil1 drcn in this country. Therefore, let the conception of woman's political duty be earnest and real.— (Loud applause.) Let them realise that the policy of the Government was to take away the charge and endearments of home, the right of the man and the woman to call that home their very own. and so put the freeholder on all fours with the State tenant. The mission of the women who looked forward to marrying and ■settling in this country or seeing their daughters or sons married and settling on the land was to see that that land, if it was leasehold, carried the option of freehold — (cheersl, — «o that they might receive the benefit of their labours and tho fruits of their toil, which the single taxer6 had the impudence to call the unearned increment. There was not stronger i condemnation of Sir J. G. VVard's liberalism I than the detestation with which the | country viewed the Land Bills. —(Cheers ) He called on the women to stir themselves up, to become a solid force, to fight a fight that would never end till they won and saved their husbands, brothers, and sons from the hampering and deprcs-ing career of State tenante — (cheers). — whose nomo6teads were to bo revalued under tho thieving pretext of security for the State. '•Sir Joseph Waid," Mr Monk went on to say, " did not say anything about the price of flax and wool and gum going down. He did not telJ you anything about the turnip fields getting parched up or of the shortage in oats, or of the hiirh "Hop buitei is '-zomg to be because Nature ha a denied to tho cows the power to produce milk. Nor did he tell you of the settlers fight ins nicrht and day with fire, and lookmtr out with tired, weary e>os to where tlio living wall of flame is coming upon their homes, and praying for rain. Oh ! where will the unearned increment be now. and how many years will it take to recover it? — (Cheeis.) " Women, form yourselves into great battalions and vote for your homes, or tho homes you hope to have, and I am euro that at next election a laree number of tho present members of Parliament will be consigned to a place of repose."— (Loud applause.)