A GIGANTIC STEAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16137, 14 January 1913, Page 3

A GIGANTIC STEAL.

TO THE F.DITOB. Sir, —In your issue of January 9 Mr David Jones takes me to task for an article under the above lieadingpublished by you on December 24. Those who have read the article will see. Jy onco that any value Mr Jones, s criticism may otherwise have had is quite destroyed by the distortion of what it contains. His personal reference is the impertinence of an ignorant man and therefore calls for no resentment on my part. I not only retract nothing I have said but even stronger language is justifiable. Tho granting of the 99J years’ leases was an error, but this tenure is infinitely preferable to the state of things which will obtain if the “ Reform ” Party are successful in parting with our children’s birthright for “ a mess of pottage.” The point I wish to emphasise is this: that whatever is the amount of profit which the leaseholders make. on the resale of lands after obtaining the leasehold will ho a permanent charge on, firstly, the farmers who occupy those lands, and through them on the rest of tho community. This charge will remain for not only 999 years but for all time a.nd cannot be recovered bv any system of taxation. Seeing that 1,600,000 acres are involved, and not only ground value but, as is now being disclosed, mineral values as well, it, is quite possible that will exceed even the purely arbitrary £8,500,000 which was used for the purpose of illustrating the principle. ■ I repeat, it is a.' gigantic theft of the people’s property, and if tho principle is extended to other leases it becomes simply infamous.—l am, etc., GEO. SAGE. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —With your permission I would like to comment on the Reform Party’s organiser, Mr David Jones’ remarks on the above. His remarks regarding yourself I will leave, as I have no doubt you are quite able to look after yourself. He says in referenco to G. Sagej “ like most writers of his kidney.” Now, I would ask your readors, is that not, to say the least of it, a very vulgar expression? Then, again, he says he is full of convictions but bankrupt of facts, and swells his chest, etc. Now, one is apt to connect the Reform Party with the well-to-do class, the well-educated, in fact, the gentry, as we used to call them in the Old Country. Ido not belong to that class, being a working farmer, but I would be sorry to refer to my opponent in a controversy in such terms. Surely wo can bo gentlemen. Just in passing, let me say if G. Sage created the impression that the Reform Party were robbing the people, let David Jones prove the contrary. He will, I think, have a long row to hce. Tlio majority of tho people of this failland have still a very vivid recollection of tho last time the Conservative Party were in power, and at the risk of being classed by Mr Jones as being one who wilfully disregards facts, I feel very sure the present party in power are very closely related to the old Conservative Party.

I bclievo in speaking of a man or party as they deserve, and T have to thank the Ballance-Seddon-Ward Party for their Liberal land policy, for through their policy I was enabled to go on the land. The Reform Party arc making a great song about the sin of the 999 year lease, and are continually railing against it, and advocating the freehold; but I feel sure their mouthpiece, Mr Jones, knows just as well as everyone else who has given the matter any thought, that there is no such thing as freehold, and that the State can tax cither freehold or leasehold to almost any extent. Another inconsistency on the part of Mr Jones to my mind is when he goes to a lot of trouble to point out wliat ail abomination for the State the 999year lease is, and what a gift it is to the tenant. Then immediately after, he goes on to sav he believes tlio tenants will gradually avail themselves of tho opportunity to revert to tlio freehold. ’ I will not pay Mr Jones the compliment ho navs you at the close of his letter when he says he still tries to persuade himself yours is a respectable onper, for I feel perfectly sure he is not sincere, and knows he is advocating a most unpopular cause.—l am. etc., W. GALE. January 13, 1913.