AFTER WAR PROBLEMS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 425, 12 November 1918, Page 1

AFTER WAR PROBLEMS

How can we best obtain National Efficiency? By T. H. Tidd, Manurewa, October 24th, 1918. BENEFITS OF NATIONALISATION Under this suggested reformed system of land tenure and conscription of surplus wealth dedicated for the purpose of land development, war expenses, pensions, etc., I claim the following and many other economic advantages will be secured to the State and' the community generally: (1) "By placing our primary producers in a more satisfactory position, good production will be encouraged and in sympathy our export wealth increased enormously." (2) " It will enable our Government to pay its huge war debt out of the unearned laud increments and the commercial wealth that has been obtained from our profits and during years of prosperity, rather than by Attempting to meet its obligations by decadent methods of taxation While the country is suffering from war weariness and possibly ultimate years of depression." HUGE WAR DEBT (3) " By paying our national debt out of past accumulated wealth taxpayers will be saved "hundreds of millions " of pounds in interest alone. For every one per cent in principal paid it is usual to pay five per cent in interest, so that on a war debt of £100,000,000, £500,000,000 in interest will have to be paid to the capitalist before our war debt is extinguished under the radical continuance of present taxation. I>RIED MILK INDUSTRY (4). " The innovation of the dried milk industry at this juncture gives every promise cf adding considerably to the value of our dairy products. This will doubtless be appreciated by sections of present land owners, land agents and others, but rest assured it will not make it easier for contemplative buyers to establish themselves on tho land, neither will it reduce the cost of living, thus I maintain it is the immediate duty of the State to legislate so that all may be protected from the evil effects of further inflated land values." REDUCED LAND VALUEB 6 " By successfully reducing present land values and making avail able large sums of money for development purposes a great impetus will be given to primary production, while many outsiders and would-be farmers would find it comparatively easy to occupy land for agricultural pursuits, whereas under the present hold tight system they are debarred through lack of capital." (7) " By eliminating the making of large profits out of any industry or concern except legitimate farming and necessary industries, wasted energies would be diverted from unprofitable concerns, while the economic advantages gained to the State would be manifold." (8) " By a satisfactory settlement of the land question all economic difficulties would be brought much nearer perfection, and herein, mark me, lies the solution of the ' labour question,' the shipping difficulty, the cost of living question, liquor question, soldiers settlement etc. (9) " By reducing inflated land values and abolishing farm mortgages etc. the tendency will be to cheapen the cost of production and the cost of food supplies for home consumption, that the present ratis of wages will comparatively be more than sufficient to securo a competent living to wage earners and those possessed of limited means of support." REDUCING UNPROFITABLE INDUSTRIES (lOj " By doing away with unnecessary industries and encouraging land settlement on a largo scale multitudes of people who are now occupying metropolitan positions quite unprofitable to the State would be forthwith released. All nonessential industries are, without exception, not only an economic waste, but an unnecessary burden and tax upon those engaged in profitable concerns." (11) "By establishing a permanent leasehold tenure in place of our so-called "freehold" system many farmers would be freed from the anxiety of foreclosure etc., and thereby feel at loast secure to work and develop their holdings and expend necessary capital for development." (12) " By land occupation uudor permanent leasehold system at 1 per cent on present values at 8 prr cent on Governm- nt purchase values, tena-its wnuld eifect a saving in many cases of from two to four per tent in interest on the capital value of ill-ir farms ns compared with the pre.-ent mortage system, the Government also would havo a gross profit of \\ per cent annually, being the "';fl price between their land pur:a-- at 5 per cent on half tho . r ■■>' "r ■•) pital and leasing at 4 per i • i r i>e nil Viilups." (|;i) " Isy making a saving equalling even two per cent on existing n.or gages producers would save hundreds of thousand of pounds an-

nually, which amounts would unquestionably prove of inestimable value to struggling settlers and newbeginners desirous of improving their homesteads." UNNECESSARY EXTRAVAGANCE (14) By diverting a fair proportion of which would otherwise be constituted wasted moneys in the cities and elsewhere, to the development of agriculture, our exports would soon be doubled and even trebled. Think cf the millions annually wasted in drink, dress, pleasure and gambling, while our country lands remain idle and neglected. During the past winter it was pitiful to see thousands of cattle, calves and sheep actually dying for want of sufficient food, caused principally through farmers incapacity to secure necessary top-dressing for pastures. (15) By the saving of large amounts in principal and the annual interest thereon, settlers would be enabled to purchase much larger quantities of manures and other fertilizers, so very essential to intense cultivation, thus thousands of extra dairy cows and young stock would be grazed and reared on present improved lands. (16) " By the nationalisation of industries, the liquor trade could also be dealt with in tho manner afore described. Public house property would be bought over at half value,' thus eliminating the necessity of compensation where occupations are considered non essential to National efficiency." INCREASED OUTPUT IMPOSSIBLE In conclusion, let me state that under our present so-called " freehold" land tenure system, it is plainly impossible to materially increase our output. Indeed it is very uncertain whether our present export can be maintained, not because there are insufficient people willing to take, up farming pursuits, but simply they have not the necessary capital wherewith to start. (To be continued.)