English Views of Colonial Politics.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4384, 22 January 1883, Page 4

English Views of Colonial Politics.

The following remarks on JVIr Bolleston's Land Bill and Major Atkinson's proposed scheme of. national assurance, from the London Spectator, will afford some.amusement to people in this part of the .world:—" A correspondent of the Daily News states that the Legislature of l?ew Zealand is about to try two experiments of rery great moment. One is a Land Bill, supported by Sir George Grey, the principle of which is that the Colony shall sell no more land, but shall gire leases of twenty-one years, with provision for compensation if the lease is cancelled at the end of that time.' It is believed that this arrangement will be a great temptation to settlers, yet leave to the Government the ultimate control of the soil. It may prove so, but we suspect the English hunger for free ownership. The other bill, brought in by Major Atkinson, provides for compulsory insurance. Every man must pay either £6Q down before he is 23, or 2s a week for twelve years in order to secure 15s a week if single, and 22s 6d a week if married, during sickness, and 10s a week as superannuation allowance after 65. These are bold proposals, and it- is believed they may pass, the Radical party supporting the first in particular very, strongly. We entirely hope they will. "Nothing can injure New Zealand much except earthquakes, and if she will try experiments in social legislation for the benefit of closely packed Europe she will hare a high place among the useful nations of the world.' The Cantons of Switzerland, which ought to try them, distrust originality; while the State of the Union, with their marvellous facilities, try nothing except divorce laws, most of which are as old as Rome, and did not succeed therej Some -colony, say Fiji, should try Socialism'pure and simple, and see what comes of it." .