LAND VALUES-AND IMPERIAL RESERVISTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 61, 9 September 1914, Page 2

LAND VALUES-AND IMPERIAL RESERVISTS

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — It is a very striking contrast that Mr. Withy draws between, what New Zealand does for the families of Imperial reservists called away on active service and what New Zealand does for the land monopolisms— a mean-spirited miserly 2s 2d per day for the former, and a fat State bonus of twenty-five millions sterling of community-created, values for 6000 of the latter (over £4000 apiece) in the past five years. Mr. Massey tells us that "we cannot' do more " for the families of our Imperial reservists ! Possibly not, so long as we continue to do so rmich for our big- land monopolists. But what do the land monopolists do for us that we should do so much — or, foi* the matter of that, do anything at all— for them? And how many Imperial reservisits' famiftes have we in New' Zealand ? Are there sixty ? Are thdre six hundred ? Aro there — but, of course, there are hot — 6000? But even if there were 6000 of them, the twenty-five millions sterling of "pub* lie value," as Professor Marshall calls it. that we have given in the past fivo yuais to these 6000 big land-monopolists would give the 6COO' Imperial reservists' j families over £4000 per family, or at ( 5 per cent, an income of more than £200 a year. If there ate 600 it would yield thorn upwards of £2000 a year per family. If there are 60 only it would give them no less than £20.000 a year per family. Of course, it may be objected that £20,000, or £2000, or even £200 a year is too much to_ pay an Imperial reservist on active service. I can' only say that, in my humble opinion at least, an Im- I pru-ial reservist is far better worth the £200, the £2000. or the £20.000 a year than even the biggest and best landmonopolist., who, as such, renders his country, whether in peace or iir war. no service at all. And, as against the Premier's statement that "we cannot do more"_ for tho families of our Imperial reservists, I say that we must do more. I say that while ti©se men are fighting for us we cannot tor very shame allow theiv families to starve; and that if they fall in the fight we cannot, we must not, allow their families to fall into "the abyss." I say that the least that we can do is to pay these men who are fighting for us a living wage, so, that they can make proper provision for their families while they are away : and should these men fall in the fight, the least we can do is to see that their widows and children are decently provided for. We owe this' to them as a matter of justice, not charity ; and we need not puzale about where the money is to come from when only 'Id in the £ on this £25.000,000 of "private value" pocketed in five years by the above-mentioned 6000 big land-monopolists will bring in over £100,000 a year.— l am, etc.; R. D SMITH. [The Post readers know well that this journal is a persistent opponent of land monopoly, but' we ct'tinot accept, as we have more than once explained, all the peculiar arguments and queer figures of Iho Land Values League (late Single Tax League). Regarding the reservists, the Minister of IJefence has already stated that their pay has been brought up to the New Zealand standard, and an assurance has been given chat their families will not suffer privation.]

To-night, at. the V.M.C.A. Rooms, the V.M.C.A. Ladies' Auxiliary is holding its Spring Fair. Cinematograph, music, competitions, etc., are arranged. Tho stalls aro bright and attracts c, and are filled with useful and fancy.- articles..