The Ministerial Policy. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2009, 25 August 1892, Page 32

The Ministerial Policy. TO THE EDITOR.

Sm, — It was with pleasure I read Mr James Douglas' letter in the Witness of August 4. The writer seems to thoroughly understand what results may be expected from the Ministerial Solicy, and that is something you have never yet one. Sir, you speak of the small farmers having the fetters more closely rivetted to their wrists. I came to this beautiful country more than 20 years ago, and was determined to make my home here. I was not long here, however, until I saw chat there was something seriously wrong. It was in vain that I wandered about endeavouring to get a bit of land fit for cultivation, while the country was virtually unsettled, and while tens of thousands of acres of the best lands of the colony were occupied by the sheep of Donald M'Tavish, M.H.R. All this time thousands of pounds were being annually voted by the province alone for the purpose of providing cheip labour for those few who were in possession of the country, and who meant to keep in possession. All this time I had no vote, although Donald M'Tavish and his sheep had nobody knows how many. Sir, that was the time when I thought that the fetters were properly rivetted on my wrists. Many people think still that a labouring man should not have a vote ; but, sir, that was the very time when I should have had a vote, to enable me to use it against the tyranny described above. I don't think it requires great intelligence to see that the policy of the present Ministry (on the more important questions at least) is far in advance of that of any Government that we have had for more than 20 years. Sir, I believe this to be a, glorious era in the history of Now Zealand politics— the leadinp articles in the Witness and Mr Donald Reid to the contrary notwithstanding. As a colonist of over 20 years' standing, aud of nearly 15 years' experience as a farmer in Southland, and also of considerable experience in Canada and the United States, I wish to add my testimony to the correctness of Mr Douglas' able letter. I am one of about 200 small farmers who now occupy a part of the late Mr M'Nab's run. Mr M'Nab had one dwelling house, a shearing shed, and a few huts for his some half-dozen men employed. It will be 15 years on the 4th of October next since the big land sale took place_ at Gore, when many people who had beea waiting for years for land to be opened went away unsupplied, and many of those who got supplied undertook to pay five, six, seven, and eight times tho value of the land. But I am digressing. What I want to point out is the results of the settling of the land. Let us suppose we, tho new settlers, notified our wants in the papers :— WANTED. Carpenters wanted to build 200 dwelling houses, also to erect 200 stables. Notice to Fencers. — Fencers wanted to erect thousands of miles of fences. To Agricultural Implement Makers.— Two hundred double furrow ploughs wanted ; 200 sets of harrows, Cambridge rollers, drill ploughs, turnip sowers, reapers, harvesters, <L-c., &c. To Saddlers.— Harness wanted for a thousand horses. To Contractors.— Thousands of pounds to be expended on road making ; four churches to be erected ; also four schools, with teachers' residences. I might go on long enough enumerating, but the whole question i& obvious enough to farmers, if not to editors. Now, what I want to point out further is this : that the result of this settlement is the town of Gore, containing a population of 1050 souls, with seven hotels, five churches, three banks, and two large schools. Now, Sir, I want to know if this close settlement of the land, if all this increase of population, if all this increase of traffic on our railways, if all this increased importation and consumption of goods and consequent increase of revenue— l want to know if all this i 3 going to increase the taxation of the older settlers of the colony? This is what you would have us believe, this is what you have tried to thrust clown our throats for the last 18 months with, as Mr Douglas says, tireless reiteration.

• ! ht & n^ w mak . e a Bhor t calculation. Accord, ing to Mr Douglas* calculation, where the land ia thickly settled it pays 48 times as much revenue per acre as the large estates. So likewise we may reckon that this estate, since it was cut up into small farms and thickly populated, and including the town, as a result of that population pays 48 times as much revenue as it did while in possession of one person. So likewise would all the large estates, if only we had the good fortune of seeing them burst up and settled by the peoplo We can easily sec that little or no direct taxation would be required at all were this an accomplished fact, oecause the customs are our chief source of revenue, and if we could only get our soil thickly and rapidly settled the results are so far-reaching in the absorption and demand for labour. In fact, this is the factory out of which towns are made and enriched. I often wonder why the. residents of our towns and cities don't support the present Government with more enthusiasm, as it is plain that the settlement of the 'country is their very life. As the country increases in population so the city increases in prosperity and wealth. Then what becomes of the argnment that the Ministerial policy will ultimately increase the burdens of the small farmers ? It simply has no foundation in fact.— I am, &c,

Robert Dodds, Farmer.

Otama, August 19.

[Surely Mr Dodds does not wish to give credit to the present Government for the settlement of the Gore district. We were under the impression that it took place during the reign of the so-called Conservatives. The contention that so-called Liberals have a monopoly of the desire to have the country closely settled is too absurd to call for reply.— Ed.]