NEW ZEALAND’S REDEMPTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3829, 12 May 1913, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND’S REDEMPTION.

ADDRESS BY PROFESSOR MILLS

ADVISES UNIONISTS TO “GET A MOVE ON.”

Wherein lay New Zealand’s redemption was what Professor W. T. Mills endeavored to explain to a largo amiienco which gathered at Whinray’s Hall yesterday afternoon to hear the organiser’s final address. The title was “New Zealand as it shall be: Redeemed” -and Professor Mills infused his remarks with a wealth of expression and humor. Mr G. Bartlett was chairman.

The Professor began by making general reference to the conditions prevailing in New Zealand and spoke of the absolute need of greater population. “What is wanted,” he said, “is not to advertise New Zealand, but to give tho men in New Zealand who want opportunities on the land, those opportunities which are there, and they will see that their friends over the sea are apprised of tho facts.” On the north-western prairies of North America, tlie speaker had ridden for half a day on an open railway track, and two, four and seven years later ho had ridden over tho same tracks. On tho first trip there was nothing but tho beautiful untouched waving grass, and in the later trips ho had seen not a single unoccupied acre, while there were more sciioolhouses, churches and residences on each subsequent trip he made. “Why, friends,” lie continued,. “150,000 citizens of tho States crossed the Canadian border and made home on the Albertia wheat fields in one single year.”. Did they go there because Aibertia was advertised, or because they were assisted immigrants, and had* their passages paid? No, it was simply because they learned there was land there. Wo could'have 5,000,000 population in New Zealand and we would not have to spend any money in advertising, either. “But,” went on the Professor meaningly,' “what about the man who lias got tho land, it will be a hardship for him, won’t it?” He could have the land just the same, but he could not hold it like a dog in a manger. The only man to be interfered with was tho man who had got what bo was not using, and if bo would not use it, then he had not got any use for it. If lie had what he had no use for, then tho community had a use for it. (Applause.) All that was necessary was that vhe people of Now Zealand should live up to tlie principles of government which had already been agreed to. (Applause.) How were they going to regulate the cost of living? Private industrial monopolies still controlled the vital relations between this country and other lands. As ho had said the other evening, these great combinations between tlie English and the New Zealand ends in international commerce, and, as a result New Zealand’s productions were to bo had as cheap in England as -here, and British goods were one-half more to 4-J times as much in cost in Now Zealand as at Home. And it was the same distance and just as uphill between Gisborne and London as between London ana Gisborne. (Laughter.) Goods from Britain out are not sold at the same price as at Home, but why not? A Voice: Tariff. Professor Mills: Yes, tariff means a little, but put the land tax where it ought to be, and you can take tlie tax from the tariff. He would start by taking the tax off tobacco.

A Voice: Oh. Professor Mills: Yes I would, and I am not favoring, because T do not smoko. They were paying Is for a tin of tobacco, 9d as a tax and 3d for tho tobacco. This meant that they were paying 00s in the £. The barroom (meaning the wnisky tax) and tobacco were tho chief sources of running the country. Taking the tax from tobacco would not discourage any local industry. Tho speaker characterised the Premier (Mr Massey) as tho land monopolist, and the High Commissioner (Hon. T. Mackenzie) as the commercial monopolist, and when these two were sleeping together, it was time that the working man woke up. Proceeding, the speaker dwelt on the subject of monopolies and the necessity for greater eclucation facilities, and provision for dealing with the small farmers’ products and concluded by exhorting unionists to anaken and work as they had never worked before because. Labor’s big campaign was jioiiiting to a wider, greater and stronger manhood. If tho Saviour still lived and if His Spirit still breathed It was surely working with tho Labor cause in its attempt to redeem New Zealand. (Applause.) A collection was taken up to cover hall and general expenses and the speaker was accorded a vote of thanks.