Public Opinion

Southland Times, Issue 23346, 2 November 1937, Page 5

Public Opinion

Letters sent to the Editor for printing must be written in ink on one side of the paper only and writers must send in their names and addresses in full whether they wish these to be printed or not. When a pen-name is used, the writer should sign his real name on a separate sheet or at the foot of his letter, where it can be cut oft before the letter passes out of the Editor's hands. Writers must say clearly whether or not their letters are being, or have been, sent to other papers. The Editor cannot return or keep any letter which, for any reason, !s unsuitable for printing, nor can he acknowledge unsuitable letters, although this will be done where it seems to be needful, or enter into any correspondence about letters sent in. THE HOUSE OF AIRLIE To The Editor Sir, —The letter of Mr D. McDougall, M.P., in your issue of Saturday opens up an interesting field for discussion. Mr McDougall contends that as the earth was not created by man, no man has any right to the ownership of any field or mountain, lake or stream. The Earl of Airlie “neither created the land nor the loch and therefore he had no moral right to it.” Let us bring the argument to our own shores. Has none of our freeholders, in Mr McDougall’s eyes, the right to own his farm, to work it, to improve it and to leave it to his heirs? Does Mr McDougall believe that all land should be nationalized, even the holdings of those who carved their fields by slow degrees out of the stubborn bush, or bit by bit drained the reluctant swamps? Further, man did not create the auriferous deposits of this or any other country, yet many of the pioneers suffered desperate hardships in order to secure gold for themselves and their families. Does Mr McDougall aver that they were not entitled to it? Perhaps he believes in the abolition of property, in making a clean sweep of interest, rent and the rights of private ownership. A word from him on the matter will be welcome. —Yours, etc., INQUIRER. October 30, 1937.