LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17083, 15 August 1917, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

land tenures in otago. . Did statesmen, instead of opportunists, guide the destinies of New Zealand, there would be no need to ask lor a Koyal Commission to deal with the lands ol Otago, and though the fate of that commission is easily foretold, it is cheering to find l r ,P eO P c , Uuncdin groping, even it blindly, towards improvement. A few friends of Heaven-sent leaders will be appo.nted, the country will foot the bill, and matters will be as before. As a native of the country, and one who has taken pajt in the unequal fight foi closer settlement against powerful influ ences, I have no hesitation in affirm ni? thai the tenure under which pastoral country is hcid is not the cause of the lack of pro press of Otago. With the land held i; largo areas, there is no opportunity i secure a homo, and the sons of the proviin:-. must move north or drift to the towns. Wore land available, they would remain iu their own province and add' to its wealth ihe remedy lies in the direction of legislation insuring that no farmer should be al, owed to own more than 300 acres of firstclass agricultural land, and no pastoralist be pcrm.tted to hold country pasturing more than 1500 or 2300 sheep. It is of greater advantage to the country that a large number of prosperous settlers shou'r' be established than that it should support some wealthy runholders and a few shepherds and rabbiters in their employ. Let the Government purchase all estates capable of subdivision. As existing leases fall due, break up the land into small areas 33 suggested, and offer the sections to returned soldiers or to people desirous of .improving their position in life. There will bo no lack of applicants under the leasehold tenure, and the dwindling population of our chief city should no longer be a reproach.

W.thout a sympathetic Land Board such a policy _ cannot be successfully carried out, and radical alterations fir<\ necessary. We elect automatic voting-machines to Parliament—l except -VLr Statham, who has the courage of his convictions—and complacently allow our leaders to nominate political supporters, as a reward for services rendered, to deal with the land on which the prosperity of the country largely depends. This policy is fatal to progress, and that the Otago Land Board has retarded closer settlement has never been disputed. As at present constituted it is a menace to the interests of Otago. Tho people of the province have the right to decide who shall administer our land laws, not the leaders of any political party. Even although late events have shown that our boasted independence of spirit is not as imagined, there is surely enough manhood left among our people to show that such toys as a new title for the Governor is not all that is required from our politicians. _ The claim to eleot our own boards is a moderate one, and 'no fairminded statesman would refuse it. Now that the residents of Dunedin appear to ha.ve awakened from the sluggish apathy_ which has. so far as closer settlement is concerned, been strongly resented in the past by all with the interests of the province, and of the country at heart, these energies_ might usefully be devoted towards securing the reforms indicated. Hitherto country residents have almost unaided fought the battle of progress, but when the voting strength of Dunedin is used to assist in convincing our legislators —almost the only argument, they understand or .give attent-'on to—that land settlement demands a little notice, our chief city should not remain, as now, with a stationary or dwindling population.—l am, etc., N. Z. THE MINIMUM MILITARY AGE. Sih, Will you permit mo to express my strong personal hostility to the amaxing suggestion that lads of 19, and even* of 18, years should be conscripted for service at the front? Mr W. J. Morrell's term is not too strong when he characterises the thing as monstrous"—the only word that seemed to me to be adequate to the case. The idea merits, and to call forth, the unanimous and indignant disapproval of every right thinking Briton. Apart from their physical immaturity, which ought in itself to be conclusive, these lads have no stake in the country, no vote for or control over tho members of Parliament, have really not begun to know the true nature of life. To propose to force thousands of such lads into military camps and trench warfare is not " bordering almost on a crime," but is indeed a "crime against the youth of the country." With pert of the First Division to draw upon and tho whole of the Second Division untouched-, what motive can prompt Ministers to seek for war victims in the lads of the dominion? It cannot be the last available mature man that is their concern. 1 am. etc., Indignant Patriot. Sib,—lt was with regret that I read a letter signed by "F. M. P." in your issue of the 13th inet. "F. M. P." would send growing youths under 20 to tho great war as ho calls it, to fight for him—a coward! He asks wliafc is the diffctcgco between & youth of 19.and 20 years old? We all agree with him that there is very little difference but even the. age of 20 is too young forour boys to bo sent away. Tlio number of boys, rather—who die and arc killed in this cruel war is 50 per cent, in exccss of tha-t of the men from 25 to 35, simply, because, in the case of the New Zealanders, the majority of tho boys have not filled out, while others have not stopped growing in their teens. Let the National Welfare Association, and the second Division League, rise in ono body and do. as they are doing, and say, as they aro saying, that they will go themselves before boys of 19 are sent to fight for us against 'men up to 50 and 60 years of age, who are prepared to stoop to all sorts of vile, low trickery.—l am, etc. The Mother of Boys.