THE LAND QUESTION. Auckland, May 20.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 371, 25 May 1889, Page 3

THE LAND QUESTION. Auckland, May 20.

A lecture was delivered in the Masonic Hall, Newton, last Sunday evening by Mr Charles Cooper on "The Land Question : Its Ultimate Settlement, or Human Aims and Divine Intentions." The hall was crowded with a very attentive audience. Thelecturer commenced by referring to the land question as one which was at the present time agitating the world. The present healchy and vigorous agitation, to a great extent, was due to that able writer, clear and incisive rea&oner, and eloquent speaker, Henry George. His splendid works had done a va?t amount towards creating and fostering a healthy public opinion in regard to the just and righteous distribution of the land, and equitable laws by which it should be controlled. The present agitation was a sure indication that the revision of the laws regulating the holding, letting and the sale of land, was in the near future. Whether that revision will be really satisfactory, he more than questioned, for reasons he intended to advance. »He believed that it would only touch the mere fringe of that great social problem. The lecturer referred to the past and present awful state of Ireland and her people, and said that we could not really blame the p.eople if they were to 1 rise and ' resort to force in asserting their rights and breaking asunder the galling chains of tyranny and oppression. He had the greatest sympathy and admiration for that brave and devoted people in their unequal, desperate struggles for their rights and freedom. The terrible cries of the homeless and starving in that country had arisen with terrible keennessand anguish to the God of Heaven for vengeance against theirtyrannical oppressors. Theland question was at the root ot nearly all the existing evils in Ireland. A hard, grinding, tyrannous reign of landlordism held sway there, and a most iniquitous system of land laws was in force, which was a positive disgrace to any nation professing to be civilised, let alone Christianised, as the English nation did. The ones who had been the worst to , enfoice that iniquitous down-treading were the English landlords, and they had committed the grossest acts of injustice and unrighteousness. The State ought to be the landlord of the people. The system of land tenure under Moses was referred to. It was said that the soil of England was capable of growing grain food sufficient to feed one hundred millions, whereas it did not actually produce sufficient to feed thirty millions. And so for foreign wheat alone some forty million poundsis spent, and something like £100,000,000 is sent out of the country evei'y year for food of various kinds. Why was this ? The reason was that the usurpation of the land by a few titled holders, and the divorce of the peasantry from the soil, prevented food

adequate for the entire people being grown. Millions of acres that ought to produce food were set aside as private parks, game preserves, deer forests, etc. — a most unrighteous and iniquitous state of things. Private ownership was a positive evil, for while it enriched a few, it subjected the mass to poverty. The nationalisation of land was advocated by some as the propor remedy for the existing evils, but it would require a revolution to effect land nationalisation in England. The Parliament of England is bub an aggregation of landowners, and tho\* look after their own vested interest too woll to, ever allow any great reforms to take place in the land laws. A greater than human power was required to intervene to put things on a better basis. The best of human schemes fail. Even supposing the nationalisation of the land did tako place, it would only benefit man kind slightly. It would nob stop the ravage of sin and iniquity, it would not stop the lavages of death. The Bible introduced to us a glorious scheme, which, when it is put into forco, will settle the land problem for ever, and overy othoi social problem. The unique grandeur of its goTcrning conception, viz., tho Kingdom of God, is a positive demonstration of its divine conception and origin. That Kingdom, the Bible declares to be a future univcrsalone, covering theiaceof thewholecarth with its territory — the Monarch Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the living God; tho Metropolis, Jerusalem in tho land of Palestine. The lecturer proceeded to say from that city, the centre of divine power and glory, waves of authority, persuasion, coercion and blessing will proceed with ever widening reach, till from polo to pole the reign of righteousness is soen, and the universal triumph of the Church of God. The gospel or glad tidings of this kingdom has a land covenant attached to it, and it is tho only one which can givo a valid title to land or life. The gospel ot God invites persons to become land-holders, and gives them an inalienable right to tho soil, and by obedience will qualify them to possess it for ever in the world to come. The lecturer quoted passages in proof of his statements, such as "The meek shall inherit the earth," Matthew sch. 5v.; " The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell therein for ever ;" Psalm 37, 29v. Tfie lecturer also went on to say that land nationalisers admitted (liko King George) that the Creator of the soil was only original and absolute proprietor. Tfie Bible recognised this, for it declared that " God created the heavens and the earth." "The earth was the Lord's.' 5 Jehovah then only had the right to reserve or dispob6 of it to whom He willed, and on what condition and at what time He/ liked. This light He has exercised. Ho has conferred this privilege of ownership upon Abraham and his seed — the Christ and those who aie Christ's. The divine promises were made to him also, and they referred to the everlasting possession of the land, a large posterity, universal blessing brought him and his seed, and universal empire guaranteed to his seed who should possess the gate 3 of his enemies. These promises have never yet been fulfilled. Christ nor Abraham have never realised their fulfilment ; they have never possessed the territory solemnly covenanted to them. They have to be fulfilled, therefore, seeing that God has made them sure by his oath and promise, two immutable things. Obedient believers in the Lord Jesus Christ collectively called " His body " are to possess the land and dwell thereon for ever. They will form the body politic of the "age to come." At that time the other inhabitants of tho earth will dwell upon the earth and cultivate, while peace and plenty and righteousness will e\ery where abound. This was the real and permanent solution of 'the "land question, " and every other social problem which battles the wisdom of the wisest statesmen the world over. There was no hope apart from this scheme. People said — Look to the State for the remedies required ; this was the proper diiection to look. But we required a perfect State to do this properly, and no perfect or righteous State can be composed of mortal, fallible, selfish men. The law of self predominated individually and nationally. The unity of the races of mankind was absolutely indispensable in order to carry out successfully bhe reforms necessary for their proper amelioration. Mere human power could not bring this about. It would be done by Christ and His immortal associates. God intends in the fulness of time to gather together in one all things in Christ, Eph. 1, 10. The lecturer concluded his interesting lecture by forcing home a very earnest appeal to his hearers to accept the divine conditions revealed, an obedience of which was required to ensure a participation in the eternal possession of the earth and the obtaining of immortality, the divine nature, for only those who were " the seed of Abraham having the hope of Israel," understanding the Covenants of Promise, would have their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

The report of the Australian Mutual 1 rovident Society for the year 1888 deals with large figures. The annual revenue of the Society now amounts to £1,512,000, of which £1,016,000 comesfrom premiums, and £495,000 from interest. The accumulated fund has increased by £726,000, and now amounts to £8,169,000. In 1887 the new premiums were £103,000 against £121,000 in 1886 ; but last year they amounted to £126,000," of which £26,000 represented single payments. Iv the assurance branch the number of new policies wa3 9,518, representing a sum of £3,034,000 and the discontinuances were 4,520 policies, representing a sum of £1,562,000. The report, therefore, exhibits a large amount of progress. At the same time the amount of new business transacted has' been decreasing for the last three years. In 1885 the new premiums were 19*8 per cent, of the renewal premium income. In 1888 the proportion was 11 per cent. Santley, the famous baritone, has arrived at Adelaide, where a public reception waa given to him by the Mayor, in the Town Hall, last week. Representatives of the various musical societies were present, and there was a large attendance of the general public. Mr J. C Bray, the Chief Justice, and Mr Annbruster offered appropriate congratulations. Mr Santley said that it was not until recently tliat he conceived the idea of coming to 'Australia, *but now he would like to take : the trip once a year. He came in search of health, and if, in his professional capacity,, he .could make the people feel as if they would like to see him back again, he would be a happy man. The cause of the rise in tlie valua of flax is fully discussed in an able article in the "New Zealand Times" of the 14th inst., the conclusion arrived at being as follows : — An impartial, careful study of the reasons which have led to a rise in price must lead strongly to the conclusion that flax will keep at a high price for another twelve months at least. The manufacturers wanting flax will try to "bear" prices. Shrewd Yankees, knowingthereis a shortage in sisal, have, formed a corner, and are " bulling " it, We know sisal is, and must' be short, and the Manila output no larger than usual. Flax is in demand for many new purposes, and is employed in many new ways.^ Its rivals, sisal and Manila, are high in price, and must keep up. Manufacturers' made-up goods are largely sold out, and new orders are large and frequent.