SETTLE THE LAND

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 313, 1 July 1912, Page 5

SETTLE THE LAND

A CURE FOR SOCIALISM. By Telegraph—Press Association. Hastings, Last Night. In the annual report of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce, the president, Mr. E. 11. Williams, made an instructive reference to labor unrest. After reviewing the position, he said: "Whatever the remedy may be,. I suggest that Socialism, as popularly understood, will not cure the ills we suffer from. I ven> ture to assert that Socialism will not take a deep root in New Zealand if the people are wise enough t;> devclnj) the country by sub-dividing ilie .and putting on it as many bona fide settlers as it will carry. If that is done it would be well to grant settlers the easiest posisble terms, so that the land may be occupied and brought into profitable use as soon as possible. By this means only will stable government be obtained in New Zealand, for useless fads will find no support from men who make homes on the land, and who justly claim that if they work and use their energy and ability in bringing their allotments into profit they are entitled to all the benefits they can derive therefrom. That class of man is worth his weight in gold to this country. He is engaged in constructive work, as against the destructive methods adopted by the man who will not work, and endeavors to prevent his fellow-mar. from doing so."