PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY, SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1881.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 965, 30 July 1881, Page 2

PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY, SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1881.

“ Land Ho !!! A conversation of “ 1933, on the results of the adoption “of the system of nationalising the “ land of New Zealand, adopted in “ 1883.” Such is the rather pretentious heading of a pamphlet sent to us, we suppose by the publisher, Mr. F. L. Davis, of Lyttelton. The author, whomsoever he may be, starts with the following:—

Now the meaning of that (viz., Nationalizing the Land) was that the whole of the lands should belong to the public, that they should be let to tenentry, that the rents should be the property of the State, and that the rents should be applied to take the place of the place of taxation—in which case not only would the whole community be relieved from the burdens of taxation, but a great many advantages would be bestowed upon the public at large. That, by the most advanced thinkers of the present day, was admitted to be what every nation ought to aim at. —Sir George Grry, vide Hansard, page 265, 1880.

We have not turned up last year’s Mansard ; but we can quote from Sir George Grey’s land theories from memory to assert that “ the land for the people ”, is his motto. Therefore it is not surprising to find that “ the “ author of this pamphlet is convinced “ that the scheme as sketched therein “ would be a just, practicable, and “ permanent solution of the land “ question.” But our readers will want to know what this “ scheme ” is all about. As far as we can make out of the few pages before us, it is an assumed conversation, supposed to take place half a century hence between a young man and his grandfather—one who, we may still further suppose, is alive and kicking about the New Zealand of to-day. The object is to shew that the present prodigal way of dealing with our landed estate is disastrous to the Colony. And proceeds to argue that the Colony will never be successful or great, unless the Govarnment conserves the land by letting it, instead of selling it. But to begin at the beginning. The author makes the half-century lap with magnificent ease. He goes to sleep leaving the public debt of 1883 at thirty millions sterling, and wakes up fifty years after, to find, not only that these millions are paid off, but that there is “ no debt; no municipal “ rates ; the ports free ; with only a “ small registering staff for statistical “purposes.” Happy country! Elysian New Zealand!! Utopian blessedness ! !! Oh ! That we might live in 1933, when “ the land revenue, after “ paying all costs of roads, railways, “ and Municipal and Road Board ex- “ penses, and all expenses of the Go- “ vernment, has a surplus of £250,000!” To bring this about the author says that “ the influence active, as well as “ inoral, of the Mother Country (as 11 the English Republic teas called 11 then)" was brought to bear to prevent a civil war in New Zealand. The New Zealand Government, after two ineffectual attempts, passed “ The National Land Bill,” and then the matter was “very simple.” But we will let the author speak for himself : — There was no need to borrow a penny. Of course the land had to be purchased, and the debt of the country was nominally increased, but the revenue from the land was, even from the first, more than sufficient to pay tlie interest. The first thing, of course, was to find out the total value of the land, which having been done, the Government issued 6 per cent, debentures for the -amount, redeemable at any time up to 50 years. I may mention that I saw last week a statement that the whole of these debentures had been redeemed, making

the land indisputably national property. These debentures, for the purpose of account, were issued to the various Municipalities and Road Boards and by them re-issued to the proprietors of the land. At the end of the first ten years much of the land let for a higher yearly rental than could have been obtained for the freehold if it had been sold 10 years befoie under the old system, and that value .had greatly increased at the last letting. The first year there was a surplus of £150,000, increasing by rapid strides to £500,000 at the end of the first 10 years. Since then, the receipts have increased enormously, until last year, that was in 1932, the amount of surplus land revenue was nearly eight millions sterling'' These great increases have been chiefly owing to the improved values of properties in the North Island, where a great deal of the land became National property without any expenditure of public money. The prosperity of the country is however principally due to the measures taken to abolish the debt, which 50 years ago pressed so heavily upon it. Each year as tho surplus land revenue increased, it was applied to a great extent to reduction of the external debt, and after that had been sufficiently reduced, to the payment of the land debentures. The whole of the external debt was paid in 1916 and, as I have already said, the whole of the land debentures are now paid, the final payment having been made last month.

The aim of the author may be epitomised thus:—Broadly stated he argues on a point which is pretty apparent, namely, that if the disposal of our territory goes on at the rate it has been, there will be nothing left for the State to live on, but a recourse to a similar kind of grinding taxation which has made England and Ireland what they are to-day. And he thinks that if the lands are held for and by the people, the State will be enriched thereby; or, in other words if the lands are held in leasehold perpetuity, the State would become rich at the expense of the people. We go largely in the extent of conserving the Crown interests; and there should be a law passed immediately (if it can be done) to prevent the wholesale monopoly of tying up large areas of land in the hands of a single individual; but we doubt the workableness of the premises as set out by the writer. Unless we adopt a communistic law ; unless we establish the “ Equality and Fraternity ” code, giving every man a right to his neighbor’s property, we must admit the claim of every man to an indefeasible title to the possessions his genius, his wealth, or his energy may acquire. To deprive a man of the sacred rights of his just inheritance ; or to debar him from the acquisition of that for which he labors, would be to place an embargo on enterprise ; it would clog the wheels of industry ; a man would become a machine, instead of a builder up of his nation’s fame. We do not believe in States being rich, especially if their riches come through keeping the noses of their subjects to the grindstone. It is the wealth of the subject that sustains the nationality of his country. What would become of the State, which, instead of lords of the soil,” had to depend upon “ tenants ” to gather in the sinews of war in time of need ? A nation’s pride would soon deteriorate ; the foundation of its greatness would be as a rope of sand, unless its inhabitants have an inherent right to the soil. But, that that right should be individually limited in extent, we think is only just and reasonable.

Reference to our telegrams will shew that Mr. Allan McDonald has now “ ratted ” from the Government party to which he “ ratted ” from Sir George Grey’s, and on whose ticket alone, he was elected. There is only one more political iniquity he can commit, and that is, if Mr. Ormond succeeds in ousting the Ministry, (and forms a Middle Party, leaving Sir George Grey out), to join him, and probably take the portfolio of Minister of Education. Mr. McDonald said he defected from Sir George Grey, and joined the Hall party because Cjesar was so much like Pompey, that he could not tell one from the other. The Ethiopian has changed his skin ; Cjeesar is now Pompey ; therefore, “ our member ” changes his color. Grey was a good horse once; but now the member for East Coast prefers to ride the color most suitable to the complexion of his conscience.

Mr. E. M. Edgcumbe’s address to the electors of the East Coast, appears elsewhere in this issue. The Rev. J. McAra announces that he will lecture in St. Andrew’s Church to-morrow evening on the “ Revised New Testament.” At a meeting of Directors of the Southern Cross Petroleum Company on Thursday evening last it was deci led to make the sth call d ic on Wednesday the 10th of August.

KITCHEN’S wonder of the World to be had at the ARGYLL. 308 The Sydney Rulletin says, there is a place called Papa-toetoe in New Zealand. It was founded by a young fellow who had an interview with her father. The Licensing Bill has been hung up in the Upper House pending ths decisibn on the No-confidence question in the Chamber below. Mr W. May Phillips, the enterprising tobacconist and stationer, of Gladstone Road, announces that he has received a fresh supply of books, music, &c., to be sold at prices defying competition. He says his goods are really good, and nothing but good value will be exchanged’ for tffiy amount of good money that there is afloat. Vide et crede. We learn that an entertainment is afoot to provide funds for the relief of the widow and family of the late O. Colley, who was accidentally killed hwt week. Mr. F. Thompsonds organising his forces, consisting of the old local favorites, and the date is fixed for Wednesday, the IQth August. It ; is gratifying to learn t at a subscriptionjlist has>alread y, been liberally donated, a considerable sum having been added at the Makaraka sale on Wednesday last. ( ... ; DR. HITCHENS may be consulted at the ARGYLL daily. 307 Constable Villers, who for the past ten years has been connected with the' Armed Constabulary stationed in Poverty Bay; and who was, until lately, in charge of the Ormond district, has been ordered to Awanui. In a measure this means promotion, and as he is an officer who has always commanded the esteem of the public, both in his private and| official capacity,; We, trust it will not be long! before we shall have to style him “ Sergeant ” ■ Villers. The first meeting of the Vestry of Holyl Trinity Church for the present year was held on Wednesday evening last. A good deal of business was transacted. The following im- 1 portant resolution waspassed—“ That the sittings in the Church be paid for quarterly, and if any seat rents be in arrear for the space of three months it shall be the duty of the churchwardens to give- notification'in writing to the holder of such seat that if their subscriptions be not paid within one month from the date of such notice, the seat shall be open for reletting.” We hope that at the next annual meeting, fa more satisfactory balance sheet will be forthcoming, and more j particularly in the portion relating to pew rents. It occurs to us that something similar to this has been done before, but with no profitable results. THE Marvel of the Age. The Great Blood Restorer to be had at* tlic ARGYLL. 309