WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

Evening Star, Issue 14637, 5 August 1911, Page 1

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

It is becoming more clear to everyone who stops to think about land aggregation th:it tlic only ready ehectivo ■ vv*y lo put an end to it i« by the simple direct method cf taxation. The TsrgTee.it'on of laiid i? rampant all over the country, and it cannot be long before the force of public opinion compels Parliament to deal with the problem by methods that will not only be preventive, but will compel division.—Wellington ' Times.' *. ♦ # Christianise the nations of the earth with the true Christianity, the Christianity of -works, not the Christianity of words, anrt there will be no delay in establishing that justice which is the object of all thoae who desire the parliament of man. AU the rest i/5 mere words, of us© only for the dialectics of academics, but valuable for no single practical purpose.—Oamaru * Mail.' * # * The consistent success of the leasehold system, and the demand of the country that it shall proceed with mora expedition, places Mr Massey in rather a quandary. J He has persistently advocated a freehold I policy, and must suit his arguments to tho particular creed he has adopted far party use. Hence the poor showing which he makes when dealing with a question in which he—as a. practical farmer—might reasonably have been expected to appear to some advantage.—■ Southland 'Xewe.' * * » I Tbo problem of \ha Pacific is tremendously difficult, and its solution probably will be long delayed, but when the time comes to tackle it in earnest New Zealand and Australia should be given a recognised place in the councils of the nation.—'Lytteiton Times.' » # * It is an easy matter to resolutions and, within certain limits, laws for the exclusion of Asiatics, but it is not so easy to keep in mind the complications that this protective policy may provoke, both in tho foreign relations of the Empire and in the government of that huge dependency (India), which includes about three-fourths of tho entire population of the Empire,— Wellington 'Post.' » « • Parliament ought to be working at something instead of frittering away days ani nights in futile talk on a. purely "formal proposal to. make a reply to His Excellency'e address.—Southland ' Times. * * • # It may be a good thing, probably is, to make Oiago a free port, but the. end by which it is proposed to be brought about is one more. turn, of the screw in putting more taxation on to the land and relieving other forms of wealth from their share of this particular burden. It is for the country ratepayers and their representatives or, local bodies to consider the position, and be read}' to answer with a yea or nay when the time comee..—Clutha ' Leader.' * * # The figures referring to alcohol and tobacco may and will, of course, be eorely displeasing to our Prohibitionist friends and to .those who abominate the use of tobacco in any form. ■ I'esdmg,. however, the advent of the day when " beer and baccy" ■shall 'altogether disappear from *he land, ■the average ..Sew Zealander should- be pieased to had that after ail we ars fairly moderate in our use of these articles, — Marlborough ' Espreea.' . 9 # • An increase in the Graduated Land Tax would probably meet with the approval of the great majority of people throughout the Dominion. Mr Massey and his immediate following would certainly disapprove of any such proposal. Wc muet remember that the Lenaer of the Opposition, while constantly denouncing the Maori landowner for blocking settlement, has nothing to say against the white laud monopolist, a-nd that Mr Martsey is only too anxious to secure tn? universal acceptance of that form of tenure which most easily and effectually ensures the aggregation of land ; but the people of New Zealand have carried "rest reiorme against the opposition of the Goncervativcs and trie land monopiists before te-d:iy, and we have no doubt that tncy will do so again.—Auckland 'Star.' * # # Whatever may happen to the Reciprocity Troaty in the Canadian election, our Dominion produce's can rely upon receiving most friendly trc.r.tment, a.n-a we confidently anticipate that the Vancouver service will nnt only carry our Dominion mails swiftly and surely, but will also assist greatly in. the developments of a trade which wilt be profitable to tee entire Dominion.—Auckland ' Herald.'