MR MITCHELL AT PALMERSTON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14356, 28 October 1908, Page 4

MR MITCHELL AT PALMERSTON.

Jlit James Mitchell)'who is a. candidate for the Oaniaru seat, seems to have made a favourable impression at Palraerston, where lie spoke last week. While ranking himself as a supporter of the present Government'in its general policy, ho is not disposed to give it any slavish adherence,. He was, perhaps, most interesting in.' bis discussion of the land question and of the subject of education.. Mr Mitchell is strongly in favour of the leasehold. He would have subdivision of -tl«,s laud into small holdings such as would enable men to maintain their families in reasonable comfort and make provision for their declining years, but he would havo the feesimple thereof retained by the Crown, It is, of course, possible to bo convinced and misguided at the same time. According to Mr'Mitchell; the freehold tenure has been mainly accountable for every period of financial stringency that this country has' passed through. This sounds alarming, hut fortunately the proof Mr Mitchell adduced in support of his proposition, is not-as conclusive as it might be. As a matter of fact, when he went on to explain that the present financial stringency was due in part j.o the drop in the price of wool but mainly to the fact'that an insensate desire for the freehold was leading people to promise to pay prices far beyond its value, he u suggested plainly enough that the real factor to blame was not the freehold, but a very different thing—the inflated value of the freehold. Because the wrongful inflation of land values which is admitted by almost everyone but Sir Joseph Ward -to have taken place, especially in the North Island, has helped to bring about undesirable results it is by no means reasonable to hold the. freehold form of tenure ultimately accountable. Mr Mitchell's contention that it is foolish to suppose that the freehold ensures better husbandry than the leasehold, or that mon work bettor on their own. land than on land held under Crown lease, is so contrary to cxperienco as well as to reason that it need hardly bo combated seriously. On educational matters Mr Mitchell, as an experienced member of the Otago Education Board, should

be able to speak with authority, and' we are quite disposed to agree with t-lio general tenor of his remarks on this important subject. It is essential that the Dominion should receive good value for the large and increasing expenditure devoted* every year to educational purposes, a'nd it; is a sterious - indictment of an educational system which has been undergoing persistent reform for a number of years to' say that all its splendour i$ on paper, and that change has iiot. meant improvement nor progressiveness spelt, betterment. In effect

what has been gained has been gained at a sacrifice.' 'if, as a great man}' teachers and authorities on education do not hesitate to assert, our system of primary education is, so far as the imparling of the essentials of education is concerned, less thorough and ctlicient than it was ten years ago we may well be disappointed at the results achieved Ivy attempts to evolve an ideal syllabus, attempts which have loaned too much towards profuse experimentation. On the subject of defence, the labour question, and other matters Mr Mitchell expresses opinions which are entitled to respect. Though supporting the Ministry generally on the questions upon which the Government and the Opposition join issue he gives the impression of being anything but an extremist, and the views he holds on most subjects of political interest, are sane and raisouaule. .'