THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 1909. "AND LIVE DECENTLY."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9568, 14 August 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 1909. "AND LIVE DECENTLY."

A great economical change is coming swiftly into force in New Zealand. Evary day one can see fresh evidence of it. Thrift and hard work are not appreciated, as they used to be, and one cannot hel'p wondering just exactly when and how the end is ?;oing to be reached. Extravagance and luxury can be noted on every hand, and where tnere is no extravagance, where limited means fortiid i'dulgence in luxuries, there is discontent. The tide of wealth surged high, and though temporary depression has caused it to recede, slightly, its effects are permanent, the New Zealand national life has been affected markedly and permanently. Why'i we may ask, but in the discussion of an obvious fact there is reallj no necessity to trace back the contributing causes. The real reason, however, lies in the fact that human nature is essentially selfish anc *• the enjoyment of luxury in one quar ter excites envious dssires in anothei for similar pleasures. New Zealanc seems to have become wealthy ratbei too rapidly for its good. The forego ing remarks have been induced by j persusal of a newspaper article ii which it is contended that the farmer, on a small holding—the size is nni mentioned—cannot bring up a family and live decently. That phrase—"anc live decently" is very expressive and in it lies the keynote of th< problem that our administrators wil have to face shortly. There has beer nothing indecent in the past life o; the average settler—indeed his re cord is one of strenuous toil, bravelj and manfully borne, of stern trials overcome, of sturdy independence, and proud satisfaction of his capacity to conquer the obstacles placed in his path by adverse fortune. But f change is coming. The settler of the future is going to put this mat.ei of living decently before everything else. With the increase in the national wealth discontent first be> came apparent in the towns, ant now it is spreading to tha country. It is, perhaps, wrong to use tb< word discontent—it is really a lif( ' of greater comfort and luxury tha is sought after. "To spurn delight* and live laborious days" does not at tract anyone—the mere suggestior of such an existence is enough tc drive the labour agitator insane. The lands of the farmer have long excited {he pa3sion of the citj Socialist. In them he has for yean past seen more wealth—for others 01 for himself Need we ask! Bul though the farmer is being steadilj more severely taxed by his Socialist friends his troubles do not end there

His needs a*e, also, becoming greater. He finds that conditions 01 life which once suited him will not do now. Hfc has to bring up that family and to live decently! The farmer is beginning to talk somewhat after the manner of h>s brother in the city. Hitherto he has ! been meek and jjliant, and altogether easily handled, but a dawning sense that land rationalisers and corrmunists would speedily deprive him of those things which he feels at last that he really needs, will, no doubt, rapidly develop into deeply rooted hostility and vigorous action. There can be little doubt that the day is, not far off when the entire popularion of the country will be absolutely united in opposition to the present Government, and especially against those extremists in the House. Whose desire appears to be to foster even still further the unscrupulous policy of "grab" that has already exercised a harmful effect upon the general welfare of thejcountry.