THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JUNE 17, 1907. THE LAND BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8466, 17 June 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JUNE 17, 1907. THE LAND BILL.

With the return of Sir Joseph Ward interest in political matters wi\l become more marked, and the Land fiill controversy will once more become an absorbing topic in both town and country. There is no question that this time it is a case of "Caesar or nothing"—the Government are going to put a Land Bill of some description upon the Statute Book, whatever the consequences may be. Clearly it is to the advantage of the Government to take decided action. in the approaching session. Much has been said in regard to the possibility of an appeal to the country, but in our opinion, the Government have no intention whatever of appealing to the people. Successful politics consist of judicious compromises, and the Premier, it may be said, has suggested that he is not above compromising in regard to the land question. We refer to a speech which Sir Joseph made 'at Auckland just prior to his departure for England on the present trip. Then again th2reare"the big battalions" to be considered, and to be relied upon. The Governme.it have a very large majority in the House, and it will be remarkable indeed if they cannot get some sort of a Land Bill put through during tho present session. The Government have nothing to gain in an appeal to the country—they would 'simply be throwing away a certainty for an uncertainty, and we very much doubt if there is a single member on | the Government side of the House j who favours seeking a mandate from the people in preference to getting a "piebald" measure through the House. The land question has, we believe, come to stay for a very considerable time, and we hold the view that it will really be fought out a the next general election.

WHAT FREE TRADE HAS DONE , FOR ENGLAND. » Writing in the London Daily Mail, Mr H. W. Wilson points out why small holdings in England have been a failure. He says the small holder has no protection on his produce, rie has to pay high rates and heavy taxes on his land. Yet when he tries to sell his stuff he has to meet the competition of the foreign farmer, who pays small rates and infinitesimal taxes, and is granted free admission to the British market. Thus the British small holder has to fight his battle with one hand tied behind his back. The British people cannot have their cake and eat it. They cannot have free food without paying for it by the utter ruin of their agriculture. Already there are vast tracts of British land on which, according to the free trade authority, Professor Nicholson, rent has vanished together, and on which even the interest on the money expended by past generations of landlords for draining, buildings, fences, and other all-important items is not met. Thus, there is actually land in England which is "minus-rent land," on which, that is to say, the tenant gets an actual subvention or bounty from the capital laid out by past landowners. But even so, this land cannot compete with the foreigner while the curse of free trade hovers over the country. How different was the state of affairs sixty years ago when Porter wrote of the immense prosperity of British agriculture. Let any dispassionate student read the words of the official report of the Board of Agriculture dealing with the present plight of the farmer, and contrast it with Porter's account in 1840. Then he will realise what free trade has done for England. Jt has ruined her land, wiped out sixteenhundred millionjsterling of her capital, driven her population into the towns, deprived her army and navy of. the best fighting stock in the world, aggravated unemployment; made the small holding problem absolutely hopeless, and produced poverty where before there was modest plenty. Until it is swept away* and such crops ag da'g&r, tobacco and wheat are rendered economically profitable to the<peasant» there can be no prospect of success. But with protection the example'of Germany tells us that the small holder can become a practical reality, not a mere catchword for the politician in search of a "majority.