MR. ATMORE AND MONOPOLIES

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13635, 25 November 1914, Page 2

MR. ATMORE AND MONOPOLIES

(To the Editor of "The Colonist.")

Sir.—As one who has lived a long life on the land, I have listened carefully to Mr. Atmore's attacks on the despised squatter. I reckon that before Mr. Atmore or any other man is qualified to speak on country matters he should take a course in the hardships of country life. Let him spend a few months in practical draining, a few months bushfelling and stumping, a few1 months in mustering and at the numerous and arduous duties of the country man. If he followed this course he would come back a wiser, better and more patient man. He would be able to recognise that the aggregation of land'which was the result of the pressing needs of the early dayis of our Dominion was not such an awful crime against humanity. The men who took up these lands were the pioneers of civilisation: The most of tliem went through hardships which are beyond the courage of Mr. Atmore to face. Now that the country is needing the land these estates^ are being divided and the country is becoming closely settled. Let Mr. Atmore remember that 21 years of so-called Lib' eralism failed to do anything sudden in the way of breaking up these estates. "Hasten slowly" has been the policy of all parties. In marked contrast to his bitterness to the "squatter" is his dealing with another monopoly which is probably the biggest and most dangerous in our land. I mean the monopoly for the manufacture and sale of strong drink. Mr. Atmore quotes "my friend Mr. Myers, probably the richest man in New Zealand." His Liberalism quite breaks down in dealing with this_ monopoly. He is quite content to see it sheltered and fostered behind the threefifths majority. Although at last ©lection the huge majority of 54,000 votes were cast for National Prohibition, Mr Atmore's Liberalism allows him to be in opposition to the wishes of this majority. The products of the squatter —wool," mutton, beef, grain, butter, etc., are such that they cannot fail to benefit the people as a whole. The products of the drink traffic may be seen at the street corners, in the gaols, the mental hospitals, and in the charitable institutions of the Dominion. Many homos have suffered by the drink habits of one or other ol' their members. Alas for,Mr. Atmore's Liberalism!

I am, etc., H. O. HOLD A WAY.