Private and Public Landlords.

Otago Witness, Issue 1957, 23 May 1889, Page 15

Private and Public Landlords.

Editob Witness,— Sir: ' An individual who claims 'a' connection with your humble servants as " Anti - Humbug," is , concerned to know 'why • Government, tenants should be treated iv a different manner >to that in which private landlords treat their tenants. •As it is possible that others in common with "Anti" may share his ignorance and desire to know, you 1 know^l will, with your permission, Sir, point out a 1 few of the differences which may exist between a private and a public landlord. ' '•<!..■ . ,-. ■. . *

It may be taken as admitted that the aim of every landlord is. to farm his. tenants [to toe greatest possible ad vantage. This being so, the private 1 landlord, who may so have , fanned bis 'tenant that he" is impoverished and no] longer able to pay the rent agreed upon, may, find it to his advantage to eject him and secure if possible a fresh victim. i The exhausted tenant need not cost the private landlord a thought. A beneficent) public will provide for him should he, be; unable to fend for 'himself. In the land from whence L 6ur fathers came he is remitted to the poorhousej'where h>i is fed and clothed at tbe least possible cost. Under similar circumstances in New* Zealand he. is supplied by a paternal Government with a tent, pick, and shovel, and em' ployment.amongst the, unemployed. ' From the foregoing "Auti- Humbug" will be able to see tjhat the private landlord loses nothing by eject* ing a tenant ; but in the case of the public laud' Jordj should the ruined tenant be unable to pro* vide for himself or family,, his late lahdloidmueb do it for hjnti Again, "Anti," you very truthfully say that the, members of the Government ore but stewards in the employment of the public. As just stewards ft, is their duty to see that; no losa comes to their employers through their services, and that to eject a number of tenants from their farms, would entail a, heavy loss- on the public, I think I can make plain even to '* AntiHumbug." To do so I will lay down this proposition : 'That any tenant who will cultivate the laud which he holds, whether he pays hi» rent or not, is better than' no tenant, so far aa the public are concerned. Thus every tenant who produces a bushel of potatoes, oats, or wheat, or anything else on which he may live is adding to the surplus for export, for which we receive cash,' or its equivalent— not borrowed, but value, received' for value givec — which is very mush to the advantage of the u general public.* Therefore, should a farm be thrown out of cultivation^ the public arc the losvrs to the extent of the value of the produce of that farm when in cultivation. " Anti w remarks that in many caße&,' judging from the reports of- rangers, the outcry about high prices i» bunkum. Now, everyone admits $hat the rangers do their duty but eve'rybae "who knows anything, about th« matter > knows that the duty of rangers is to 'report as they are' directed) by the Government, thus allowing the ins to reward their friends j or. punisfi their enemies. Now X "Anti," all I I contend for is ,j;hat settlers who' 'may be m 1 arrears shall have the opportunity, in a court i established under a Fair', Rent Bill, either to I make .th,ek statements good or to nave these, ; statements proved what you call them— bunkuco. i In conclusion, Jet me assure you, "Anti," that I ,am quite unponocrned about {he outa or the ins. , All 1 wish to see, is, a Government which will honestly carry out the wishes, of the electors as expressed through their representatives.' Thiß in the matter of thb Fair Rent and Price of Land Bill the present Government have not done, but have attempted 1 by a bit of dodgery to defeat those wishes, while at the same time to. retain the confidence of their dupea. — I am. &&Ob. b • Ravensbourne, May 14. Native

Mr T.urnbull addressed his constifcoente at ;Timaru,on the 16th, and received a vote of confidence." ' He advocated a progressive land tax and. a tax on mortgages, and said he would .make, charitable aid a .charge on large landowners. '" ' ' "■ ' <> ;. Skinjtc Mbn.— « WeUV Health' Renower " restores health and vi^mr,. Dyspepsia •Impq^euce, Be'xutti Debility. "At 'chemists » nJ idwggist*, KefngthorMe, Prosaer* aivd Oov «gejnt»,.E|unedia ot/ ;•-•*,'' ; ,'"?,, ,'",?