“LITTLE OR NO HOPE"

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8457, 17 June 1913, Page 2

“LITTLE OR NO HOPE"

To the Editor "N.Z. Time#.” Sirj—l am not at a,U surprised to learn that “Little or no hope is now entertained hy the Qommouwealth Government in regard to, the somewhat costly attempt that has been made to induce American farmers to emigrate to Australia”; and Messrs Fricke 'and Kelly are likely to have even less success in inducing the farmers of Western, Canada to go to Australia. Nor do I think that “the tightness of the, money market” and “the very great difficulty experienced by American farm ers in disposing of their properties” altogether satisfactorily explain why thev are not coming out ‘‘to take up, land in the irrigation areas of Victoria.’> 'Uio explanation is far more likely to be that in Victoria every improvement made by the farmer is penalised by the rate collector. For, as a matter of fact, the farmers are even now emigrating from the Western States of America to the Canadian North-West at the rate of nearly 200,000 a year to secure the advantages resulting from local taxation. Speaking at San Francisco in December, 1011, Judge James G. Maguire said, “Changes in the tax system of the rural districts (i.«„ thp adoption of rating on unimproved values) have attracted the immigration, during the past five years, of about 700,000. American farmers with hundred* of millions (of dollars) of capital, and the tide of immigration is increasing. A Government report, just -published, states that 129.000 of our people have emigrated lo those provinces during the eight months ending November 30th last”— at the rate, that is to say, of over 103.000 a year. • . ' Judge Maguire strongly advised the United States to follow Canada’s leadSimilar advice was given by a xax Commissioner recently sent by the State of Minnesota to inquire why the farmers are leaving that State for the provinces of Canada, and in the State of Wisconsin legislation in that-direc-tion is now before Congress. The farmers of North-western Canada are making a big fight to abolish all taxes, local, provincial, and federal on the farming industry, and to break ■up land monopoly by taxing land values instead; and if New Zealand and Australia are to compete with Canada in attracting farmers they must get a big move on in the same direction. If we do not break down land monopoly and open up New Zealand for white people, we shall only have oursedves to blame if China and Japan some fine day take a hand in the game and break down land monopoly ui order to open up the land of New Zealand and Australia for the yellow vigorous land tax. land settlement policy, not compulsory military training nor a big navy, is onr best defensive, least expensive, and least offensive policy. —I am, etc.. AETHER WITHY. Goldie’s Brae, Jane 13th.