THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1912. STATE OWNERSHIP.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10625, 2 May 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1912. STATE OWNERSHIP.

Ik Alfred Itussell Wallace believes that the day is fast aproaching when Britain anust nationalise :her railways, coal mines, and her agricultural lands. The problem is a pretty big one, but (this noted •scientist,- who is one of the foremost thinkers of the day, considers it marst be faced. A few weeks ago lie stated that lie recoal strike as a phase of the great movement that would make monopoly and grinding poverty unknown in- Britain. He believed that people were beginning to realise thatState owtnerehip of national services was inevitable. They were frightened at the prospect, and asked hew they could afford to buy the Immense private interests. But the answer to .that was quite .simple,, since the State need not pay a penny to anyone. "Tako the case of the railways," said Br Wallace. "Tho Government'could take the railways over, effect an immense economy in -working them and pay ,th« shareholders a. fair dividend. Their first concern would be to provide all the railway workers with just wages, but after that they would «ee that the shareholders had their .reward. However, that reward would not continue in perpetuity. J dike Bentham's phrase that the Government should avoid disappointing just expectations. Shareholder expect dividends; let them have dividends. But their heirs? Well, let tho next generation have those same dividends. After that, no dividends. Free railway travelling for all mankind., and the price of freight, Hike the post office charge, identical and itt-esjpectirfi <rf. distance," jh\

Wallace pointed out that n penny stamp woulid carry a letter across the Street or from one end of the world to the oilier, and the institution of a similar system in connection with the carriage of produce and merchandise would effect an enormous, alleviation of the hardship that arises from faulty ' distribution. Turning to .the land question, 'ho .said tbaib there .was no shadow of doubt that 'Entaut could produce her own wheat with very great advantage ito herself. As &oon as the State attended ■. to the ■•production of food tstuffs and .'the utilisation of land there would be remunerative work for everybody. It is, of course, very questionable how far these fine ideals of a scientific thinker .may be realised, but it is. stated that even practical jnon are .being attracted by the ideas .■set 'forth by l>r Wallace.