IDLE WORDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18772, 28 July 1924, Page 5

IDLE WORDS.

Sir, —Now the Addresß-in-Reply debate is finished and the worker has it in black and whit?, what does it all amount to? Wind. Do the bulk of the members _ of the House think for one moment they?" •were elected for that purpose, that; labourers, miners, \ farm handsj; and farmers, soma toiling eight hours and others nearer 12, are satisfied with their ' efforts or bslieva they are worthy of their pay ? Doubtless the Liberal and Labour parties are wishing to occupy the Reform benches, but where is their constructive policy, where their efforts to help the toilers and small straggling fanners? When the leader of the Opposition has finished with plum puddings, flags, and such trifles, which might entertain school children or an infant : class; perhaps he will tour the luorth,, and see first-hand what is needed in the way of , settlement, and remember Richard John Seddon was a Liberal. - Within sight of ; my work are hundreds of J.cres of land, that have been lying idle for 40 years, acres of it taken up under the homestsad system, left; and now practically " no man's knd," or held by absentees who do not know where their pegs are, and some even their sections. Fancy owners asking men working on tha gumfields where their farms are! One came to ma mouths 'he had bought the land some years previously and . had never seen it. Government lar# has been lying idle for all time within eijsht miles; of the railway, with perhaps £2 10s an acre unimproved value on it. ? ■ Why not give it- to someone to work, with the freehold in 10 years if they make or give a bonus of £1 an acre: to settle on it ? If New Zealand wants settlers, why not give them the land if they have failed to sell it all these years ? V Even as a milking proposition it would.; have . been better than some of the plaeia the Government cut up for returned soidiers. Undulating land, ready for the plough, would have carried cows in two years. Why should anyone own land to lie idle for years ? The Government is sending members of Parliament to Africa. Why not send them into the country- to see hows New Zealand can carry a bigger poptJation ? Let them see the weeds on the unoccupied land, and thay might: have a policy to offer, instead of the twaddle we have had lately. Returned SoM>rE«.