CURIOUS CRITICISM.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12640, 30 October 1905, Page 4

CURIOUS CRITICISM.

In so far as it has attempted to critisc.se In detail the views and opinions expressed by Mr Bassett, the " Herald " has somewhat overdone its work. For instance, Air Bassett did nob give "almost unqualified support" to the industrial legislation passed by the Government. He' expressed wholly unqualified approval of the principles of arbitration, compensation for accident, and superannuation. In each instance he strongly ad-

vooated a more democratic and equitable application of the principle" than now obtains, -and lie gave his word that he would oppose the repeal of the existing laws. But at the same time he exposed the crudities and imperfeotions of the several Acts, and demonstrated thoir need of-serious .amendment. It is, however, Mr Bassett's liberal and rational land policy which appeal's to have most seriously disturbed the reasoning faculties of our contemporary. He is a freeholder, certainly, but he gave such good reasons for the faith that he holds as to render ineffective, and for the most part ridiculous, the stereotyped criticism to which he has been subjected. It is quite unnecessary to labour this feature of the " Herald's" criticism, for the simple reason that it is based on a misrepresentation of the views expressed by Mir Basset*. Suffice it to 6ay that after Mr Bassett's lucid exposure of the Premier's grossly exaggerated figures, the " Herald" has no more to say about the alleged gift of " millions " to the leaseholders under the 999 years' tenure. The" Herald's " attempt to attribute to the Government the virture of practising a policy of non-alienation is rendered lamentably abortive in face of the fact that the Government has actually parted with. 2,763,889 acres, or at the rate of 212,607 acres per annum ,during the thirteen years it has been in power. As might be expected, the " Herald" carefully refrains from reminding its readers tihat Mr Baasett, while advocating .the freehold,, is strongly opposed to the aggregation of large estates, and that he only advocated the right of purchase being given to State tenants because of the Government's threat, to break faith /with them. We think, Ma- Bassett opened the eyes of the electors to the fact' that a great deal of nonsense is talked* around the subject of land tenure. He made it perfectly clear that, no matter-what the eharaoter of the tenure may be,'it. is impossible for land to be alienated from the State. As he said, land is a thing which cannot be taken awa^'and %'hethdi' it is Held at leasehold or as freehold, it remains to contribute its fair quota towards the revenue of the State. The man, who is acquiring a freehold from the State pays rent in the. fom of interest, and his payments may go ?to swell the revenue of his country. The . State leasbeholder: pays interest in the form of rent, and h.:s payments find their way into the pockets of the capitalists '-from' whom the Government have borrowed the money. The land remains in both cases a taxable commodity, but, as Mr Bassett pointed;out, in so far as it is possible for a Government to part with the property of the State, the Seddon Government has been busy doing it at the rate of 212,607 acres per annum, while all the time professiing to subscribe to a policy of non-alienation.