HENRY GEORGE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 451, 5 March 1890, Page 5

HENRY GEORGE.

ARRIVAL FROM AMERICA. AN AUSTRALIAN TOUR. LECTURES IN NEW ZEALAND. THE “ SINGLE TAX.” Auckland, March 1. Mu Henry George, the tamous social aud political reformer, whose name is quite as much a household word in these colonies as in the rest of the English-speaking world, took his first view of New Zealand shores from the decks of the mailsteamer Maripesa, as she steamed into the harbour this morning from San Francisco. Mr George had for a long time past cherished the intention of visiting tnese Antipodean colonies, but until a few months ago lie was unable to make a definite decision to start for Australia. Now, however, that ho is here, lie will make a prolonged stay in the colonies, extending over several months, and though he left this afternoon by the Mariposa for Sydney, he intends to return to Auckland before long after a tour through the chief centres of Australia, and intends giving a course of lectures in Auckland and elsewhere in New Zealand on various social questions, but chiefly on his political pet theory of a “ single tax.” The famous author of “ Progress and Poverty ” is just over fifty years of but looks younger. He is, as all know, an American born and bred. Born at Philadelphia in 1839, he was educated there, and there learnt something of printing and mercantile life, besides putting in some considerable time at sea. Since he left his native Philadelphia school Mr George's career has been a varied and useful one. He worked at the “ case ” in a Californian newspaper office for eight years, and then relinquished these duties for those of a journalist. In 1866 he became a reporter and afterwards editor of several papers, amongst them the San Francisco “Times” and “Post.” After filling various public Government positions an San Francisco for some years, he removed to New York in ISBO, and has since residod there. In 1881-82 he spent a year in England and Ireland, where he was for a very brief time under arrest as an alleged Fenian “suspect,” but was immediately released upon his identity being established. For many years past Mr George has devoted all his energies to the consideration of social and political grievances and wrongs, and his addresses and books upon economic subjects have attracted world-wide attention. Besides hi 3 great work “ Progress and Poverty,” published in 1879, he has produced “Our Land and Land Policy,” 1871, and “The Irish Land Question,” 1881.

On this trip of his to the colonies Mr George is accompanied by his wile, a pleasant, kindly lady, of about his own age, who takes the greatest interest in all her husband’s reform movements, and indeed assists him greatly. AN INTERVIEW. A Stai; reporter found Mr George smoking a cigar on the deck of the Mariposa this morning after breakfast, and had a short chat with him on his voyage and his lecturing visit to the colonies. In person the great reformer is unimposing. Ho is if anything under the middle height, but strongly built with close-trimmed fair beard and hair. Ilis twinkling eyes and his general bearing denote his very energetic temperament. He looks much younger than fifty, his present age, and his cares apparently sib very lightly on him. In manner he is genial and unaffected, and on his voyage down from ’Frisco he and Mrs George became very much liked and appreciated by the rest of the passengers. “I have come prepared to enjoy my trip to the colonies,'’ said Mr George, “and as a start right off we had a splendid passage down to New Zealand. We had very good company on board, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I have come right through from New York, where I have my home, bub I had been away in England for a good while before this. I had long intended to pay a visit to these great colonies, bub you know how all sorts of things crop up to prevent one from carrying out an intention. Now, however, I have come, and I have every prospect of enjoying myself and at the same time doing some good work, 1 hope. “ I’m very sorry I can’t stay in your city just now, but I have to go across to Sydney at once by the Mariposa. My friends in New South Wales and Victoria have for a long time invited me to take a trip down bo Australia, and now that I’m on the way, they have made arrangements which will fully occupy my time during my intended stay across there. In fact, they have filled up all my leisure for two months additional beyond the time I at first intended staying. I shall probably be several months in Australia, but I shall certainly come back here to see what I can ol your New Zealand, besides giving my lectures on the “Single Tax,” and other topics, as I have promised to do. I shall not return Home by way of San Francisco, bub will most likely go back to Europe from New Zealand, via Sydney by steamer from here, and then, aF. and 0. boat for the Suez voyage. I have as yet hardly definitely settled the duration of my stay in the colonies. “I intend,” said Mr George, in response to further inquiries, “to deliver public addresses in Sydney and other places in New South Wales on my arrival.* Then I go to Melbourne and probably other towns in Victoria, Adelaide, and Queensland. I am nob able to say definitely when I shall be able to come across to you again, bub you can be sure that I will come as soon as possible. ” COLONIAL FEDERATION. After touching on general topics of conversation, Mr George was much interested to hear of the deliberations of the recent conference on the subject of colonial federation held at Melbourne. “ I’m for federation strong,” said he. “I am very greatly in favour of the federation of these promising colonies for mutual protoction. These growing countries should band together in their young days, and as time goes by they will become stronger and stronger and more able to loot after themselves. Federation shouldn’t be delayed a second longer than it is necessary, and it is necessary now.” The reporter remarked that just as yet New Zealand was hardly prepared to join fully in a federation scheme, and that Australian legislators on the whole did not think the colony likely to cast in her lob with the rest of the provinces of Australasia. , ... “Ah,” said Mr George, “perhaps it is not quite so necessary just yet for New Zealand to join the others, considering her rather isolated position; but still, when the time comes, you here shouldn t lose a moment in joining yourselves in federation •with your British neighbours in this part of the world. I shall always be in favour of the federation of the English colonies. Mr, George expressed his hope that in a very short time he would be back again here from Australia, and he was anticipating a very pleasant aud beneficial stay in these colonics, '