LAND VALUES AND HUMAN BEINGS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 10 June 1912, Page 6

LAND VALUES AND HUMAN BEINGS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I have read with great interest the correspondence on 'laranaki land values. The correspondents handle the subject well and leave little to be written, but to add testimony to strengthen the case.

I have no intention to go into figures, as that has already been done. My experience is that the farmer is greatly underpaid for his work and responsibility, and this is owing to land values being too high.

The opinion prevails that the price of land is unduly high and it can clearly be seen that "the man on the land" is no better off, but. a long way worse off on this account. The only persons who may benefit are the speculators and agents. There is no doubt that land agents, land dealers, and "lambs" regulate the price of the land to the detriment of the farmer, who is willing to make a living and a modest competence by farming his land.

The position at the present time is that land cannot be farmed and made to pay out fair wages and show a profit; and this was the case twenty years ago, when land was one-third the price and labor twice as cheap. No wonder we want Sedgwick boys to Work for us! No wonder the town population exceeds that of the country! We have nothing to offer but long hours, unpleasant duties, seven days a week and a minimum Avage. We have to over-work our wives, our children (if we have any), and ourselves ; we have to improve our herds and be up-to-date in our farming operations, not so that we may make more and pay more wages, but that we may pay more for our land. Truly a grand prospect! Yes, grand for the land agents and jobbers! The effect of land speculation is very far-reaching, and very little can be said in justification of the manipulators. Take away the women and child labor, and what is the land worth?

One thing not dealt with by any of your correspondents—although depreciation is allowed on cows, bull, horse and ■cart, and cans—is that no depreciation is allowed on the farmer, his wife, and children. Are the farmer and his family made of iron, and proof against all ailments? And are not their ailments the result of overwork, and having to brave all weathers, with very often insufficient protection from the cold and wet? The doctor's bill, sooner or later, is a considerable item and should be added as depreciation.

Taranaki is a fine place, with good land and other advantages; and it is to be deplored that it should bo necessary that our women and children of tender years, should be dragged, by fore© of circumstances, into the cowshed, night and mornino;, year after year; and all for the sake of keeping up the price of-the land.

FARMER