OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 September 1940, Page 3

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

HOMEWOOD SETTLEMENT

(To the Editor) Sir, —As I did not get a reply to my question through the Press about the Homewood Maori Settlement (my first question was: "Is the scheme to be under State control?), I am now going to ask a few more questions, but before doing so I think that the people have a right to know what is going to happen to this country if the foreign schemes are allowed to be forced upon us as war measures. At the present time we are fighting a worldwide war for our freedom. Now, is there any freedom in State control? My second question is: "Is this land going to be leased or purchased from the Maoris by the Government? I take it that the Government will purchase this land, as I cannot see them doing a lot of improvements on leasehold land. Question No. 3 is: After this land'has been taken over by the Government and improved by subdivision, buildings, etc., on what terms are the tenants, both Maori and pakeha, going to be forced to work? It is quite a different problem, as will be seen, to run State farms to running State houses, simply because a man going into a State house is not looking for finance. It is quite the reverse on a State farm, as stock and all farm implements are required. Question No. 4 is: Are these tenants going to be asked to purchase stock, implements, etc., for the working of these farms? Providing the Government finance for all stock, implements, etc., what terms are these tenants going to work under. As I have already stated, there will be no 40-hour week. State farms must prove a colossal failure. Is this going to be a fair deal to those who are fighting for freedom, to find on their return that they will be employed as State tenants, probably never allowed to own a penny, and under strict supervision, night and day. I hope and trust that some abler pen than mine will help in this battle for freedom and see that these war measures are not going to be allowed to strangle our freedom and independence. —I am, etc.. H. PRESTON. Masterton, September 23.