PUBLIC MORALITY V. PERSONAL CONDUCT

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5229, 19 March 1904, Page 10

PUBLIC MORALITY V. PERSONAL CONDUCT

MR T. B. TAYLOR, M.11.E., DE-

NOUNCED

Soma time ago Mr T. E. Taylor, M.H.R., formed a syndicate whlirti purchased a largo area "of land on the Port Hills, near Christchurch: Subsequently, the syndicate cut up the land into building section? and sold it. making what is said to have been a very large profit over-tho transaction. In certain quarters .Mr Taylor’s dealings in land aro held to be inconsistent with his professions as a land reformer, and this view formed expression at a meeting of the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council a few days ago, when a motion was carried to the following effect:—“That this Council,being -ciarnesllV desirous of the success of fhe land cam-pan,gu against the 73 resent freehold system, most emphatically - protests against tho stand taken by. Air T. E. Taylor, A1.H.E,., in that, whilo denouncing the present freehold system as being in the very worst interests of the people of the colony, ho declares (in answer to a question'as to how he found it consistent to speculate in land) that there is nothing immoral in any man taking advantage of the state of civilisation in which ho found himself, and going in for the bargains which formed a part of tho commercial life of his day, i.e., that he is justified in taking advantage of the present land laws, although in so doing he is working in the worst interest of the people m the colony, and this Council believes chain the presence of Mr Taylor on the land eaanpaig-u platform will be -hurtful if not fatal to the success of the movement while -holding those views, and - would suggest that his name c-hould be deleted from, tho list of those who from the public platforms of the colony are to advocate land reform until such as he brings bis practice into line with his preaching.”