FIRST EDITION. Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878] SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1894. COCKATOOS AND CONSERVATISM.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4614, 6 January 1894, Page 2

FIRST EDITION. Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878] SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1894. COCKATOOS AND CONSERVATISM.

In another column appears a letter from MrMacßae, of Bowlanda station, and we commend it to the attention of our readers. A local contemporary has given full prominence to the men's side of the question. Alter perusing I Mr McEae's statement, iho public ' can judge between the bad faith and extravagant demands of the dissatisfied employees mid the open, conoiliav tory attitude of the employer. It is, _ however, satisfactory to learn that tlie paid Australian delegates, who have been lately touring through the Wairarapa, have signally failed in their mission, l'be common Senee of the New Zealand workers has shown itself in thereftnal 10 subsidise the merce- } nary misohiefmakers who have doubtless fled fiom bankrupt Australia, in the hopes of replenishing their scanty funds by misleading the unsophisticated shearers of New Zealand. But a wider and more important aspect S of this large question of the relation between capital and labour is suggested by the following sentence in the concluding portion of Mr Maoßae's letter, "I have« full board, and ike g greater number of them are settlers in , the district," There are not wanting signs to the observant student' of colonial polities that New Zealand

will bo distinguished in the not distan future as the moat conservative colony instead of being considered, as it is a present, the most radioal and ad< vanoed, Though the cry 'throughout Australasia has been for' man] years, "Settle the people on thi land," it is only in'this colon] that the idea has been realised arid whatever may be the merits and demerits of the present Government il k undeniable that the Hon. John MoKenzie has striven to place as many persons as possible on the land, and though doubtless there has been some dummyism and speculation, yel in the main tbe object in view has been secured. The origin of the word cockatoo is doubtful,' and though, the large runholder has sometimes sneered at the small struggling settler, it is time he recognised the latter as his strongest ally, Possession of property and especially of land has proved in all ages and countries a salutary sobering ■ effect on the owner, and a sturdy yeomanry should be tbe moßt cherished possession of a country. With the Colony dotted over with these small settlers many questions at present agitating our sooial system will disappear. It is.true that there are tract* of land whicj) must continue to be cultivated in large areas, but with small holders roundabout the wandering shearer will become a thing of the pasti Thai the shearer'B life at present is a hard one few will deny, • hot his own recklessness and carelessness alienates much sympathy which might be extended (o him. In many cases be is somewhat brutalised by close association with many of the roughest men in the country who are necessarily without, the refining and softening .influences, .of home life, The co-operation of the smallholder with bis bigger brother will gradually do.away with the. necessity for the

ipgi which wjll enable the 'f cockatoo >' Ip'Sympathise of thej" squatter" will be; benefioia! to both and prevent the 'violent class anitaoaities engendered'by the present syfl(em. - This coupled- with - the women'M vote wbioli we are convinced, incite of the Jesuits of-the laßtlelectioD,ie naturally copserfative fntha best sense ■; of'the ;■ wordji'lwjlj! make'thecolony the rhopt'prosnetonsl p|y well.be pdh^ent.'ip thifiiltire.o/t|eir«o|ntr^.: ; ; ; /'y: