The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1884. PROGRESS AND POVERTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1657, 10 April 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1884. PROGRESS AND POVERTY.

Major Atkinson devoted a portion of his recent address to his constituents to the consideration of the question of land tenure. He spoke somewhat vaguely, but if his utterances mean anything they indicate that he is an advanced Socialist, and a decided convert to the alarming views of Henry George, We do not mind experiments being made in leasing state lands within moderate limits and watching the result of them, but when Major Atkinson intimates that his Government is considering tho expediency of abolishing freehold tenure in the colony and substituting some mysterious better tenure for it, we can only regard the Premier as a public enemy, We havo long given an independent support to the continuous Ministry, but this last declaration of the Premier is too much for us. We give him up as untrustworthy, and hope to see him out of power at as early a dato as possible, For many years wc have considered Sir George Grey the most dangerous man in New Zealand, but we question now whether Major Atkinson is not equally as much to be dreaded. It is no uso Major Atkinson telling us that in the Old Country the state has asserted its right to interfere with freehold tenure—alluding no doubt to the somewhat questionable Irish Land Legislation, If Major'Atkinson thinks it necessary to rule New Zealand after the same fashion England lias found it expedient to deal with Ireland, he will find out his mistake, Major Atkinson has, we believe, sold his own farm, and is personally prepared for Land Nationalisation, but the thousands of freehold farmers in New Zealand aro not prepared to follow his lead, Ho has raised tho flag of Land Nationalisation; he has threatened to abolish freeholds! People will be slow to believe this of him, but when once the conviction comes home to them he will bo ignominiously expelled from place and power. The members for the Wairarapa have been loyal supporters of Major Atkinson h the past, but his recent speech must go a long way to shake their confidence in their chief. They cannot follow Mm on the question of land tenure and retain their seats, nor do we believe can they follow him in this madness without betraying tho interests of their constituents and doing violenco to their own consciences.