New Zealand's Future.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7939, 22 October 1904, Page 5

New Zealand's Future.

(To the Editor)

Sir, —The Wellington Times "of 20th' contains an opinion by Captain Pearse, ~ of the " Pastoralist's Review" as ■ toNew Zealand's capability for competingwith the Argentine's productiveness. Hounhesitatingly states (having recently returned from visiting that country)* that the cost of production in New Zealandrmist be reduced, or New Zealand will he beaten out of'the marJeetA Considerations arise hereupon it is impossible to overlook. .Under the Seddon. .■ Government we are hastening to become*. an impoverished agricultural community, and ; a'-capitalists!.." sweated land. This is inevitable under the resumption' of estates now going on. As an instance take the Cheviot, estate .in,: Canterbury, For this the Government paid £260,000. The original owners acquired it for £40,000. Here the capitalised value is multiplied six times and it can never be lowered. That incubus is a permanent one the Seddon Government has inflicted "on the colony in order that the Cheviot owners may walk away, with £220,000. All future occupiers going on that estate must do so at a capitalised rental 6 times its original value, and this is only & specimen of what :is taking placo throughout, thecolony. Over, three million has been.;thus, misappropriated- already, yet New Zealand cannot hold itsmarkets, Captain Pearse shows, "except, by reduced cost of production," .and accordingly an ultimately pauperized agriculture is the future for these estates, A Conservative Ministry could never have effected suchmischief. The country would have risen up in protest. Here is the cruel deception. The Premier. poses as a democrat and'anti-mbhopohst' and throwsdust in the eyes of the working class by such talk asl-escuing the larids for tho - people, thus insidiously betraying those "' who trust him. In the early days of land greed consolation was taken in tho assurance that the land monopolists would in time become overgorged with land and be forced to disgorge, and then would come a day of reclining land land be plentiful and cheap. It was never contemplated that politicsi would be so corrupted as to expressly legislate for the benefit of the land sharks, and that estates they could not-sell a government would be created to buy up and at prices such: as Cheviot cost, .£40,000, bought up at £260,000, and that a man profess- - ing the most opposite sentiments would : be.found to, act as Premier;. Is there no capacity of indignation left in .Newi~ Zealand ? No*; manly, struggle/* for.. the- / children's heritage ? No- patriotism forthis land of adoption?/ 'in the words 6C inmiitable Biglow, "What will make youact like free men;' what will make, your dander/rise."—l am, &c, ". > M.C. 21st October, 1904.