THE FUTURE: A SUGGESTION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 296, 8 September 1908, Page 6

THE FUTURE: A SUGGESTION.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Much, lias been said and written about Now Zealand and tlio Asiatic question, and I wish to express an opinion and to make a suggestion. My opinion is that before long England may not be in a position to extend to Australasia all that protection which sho now affords —that she may be fully engaged elsewhere. Moreover, .I am doubtful whetlior Ainoriea can hold the Philippines against Japan. Japan's procedure would bo to land a strong army 011 the island of Luzon, and by the time the American Fleet readied the Pacific, Manila would have fallen, arid the Fleet would be left hovering hither and thither without a harbour wherein to shelter or undergo repairs, always necessary after a long journey, .and get a new coal supply. 111 theso conditions tlio Fleet would have to accept war when and wliero it suited Japan, and'under such conditions would be liable to complete destruction. This would givo Japan the control of tlio Pacific, and New Zealand and Australia could 110 longer maintain the poll-tax barrier erected to exclude Asiatics. The result of an influx of Ohineso and Japanese can bo imagined. To prevent this taking effect New 2ealanders must learn to rely upon themselves, bccauso to lean entirely either 011 England or on the United States goes against the framing of a true national spirit. Wo must shortly realise that man alone can accomplish nothing. Individualism is an epoch gonoby tlio history of all' nations. Co-operation has taken its place, becanso co-operation offers better means of self-defence. Tlio European nations, in order to escape destruction at each other's hands, have learnt the principle of co-operation. Tho English peoplo have not. This is what makes Germany's strength and England's weakness. It is time for us to start. Individualism must givo way to the interests of tlio community. The common good must- be the guiding factor of our legislation. We should be liko ancient Greece, a community in arms for our national defence. Scienco must bo called upon to supply new means of defence, because science in the strugglo for life is of more importanco than political strength. But we havo a very small population and a very low birth-rate. The legislation must aim at increasing both; aud hero comes the suggestion I intend to mako:— (1) Franchiso k> the children. The father must havo tlio right of as many votes as 110 supports children. If this is carried, tlio legislation will go to favour tlio unselfish element of society: the fit v. the unfit. (2) All national land should be cut into small holdings, and a small cottage built upon each; theso properties should bo sold on easy terms to families willing to take up farming, and to farmers imported from Europe. (3) Prussian Poland is tlio best country to draw immigrants from. A steady, progressive land-tax with tlio object to split up largo holdings. The surplus land should be bought by tlio Government and disposed of as in No. 2. (4) The theatres might bo used as a means to oducato tlio people, as they are now used to lower, rather than to raise, their standard of morality and sense of arts. The Government should nationalise them, and let thorn frco to companies which show programmes of a moral nature. Thrift, simplicity, truthfulness, duties to tho country, etc., may be taught in a most natural way. (5) Preference should bo given to fathers in tlio Civil Service, and wherever thero is a position to fill. Theso suggestions aro from a book 011 "Social Problems in New Zealand and Abroad," which is to bo published later, but which I now offer for discussion as likely to lead to benefit to tho country.—l am, etc. E. BORGHETTI, M.D. September 4.