THE LAND AND PEOPLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11948, 6 March 1917, Page 3

THE LAND AND PEOPLE.

to TOTt HMTOB. Sir, —At a dinner c:ivon in honour of New Zealand representatives, by the Tloval Oolonusl institnto, Mr Mascey said that New Zealand* had no areas of t:;ioconpi«.Hi land fit for settlement, but. lie would welcome British immigrants 10 New Zealand. Mr Massoy'fmerit is absolutely false. The land here is neither profitably occupied no<developed ri'. it should, and never will bt under land monopoly. After fwentylivo years of ek»er settlement, s(.i calb'u' there is now a smaller proportion of the nopuiation direct land users than when So .'John M'Kenzie inaugurated his finale scheme of laml purchase. Rut if laud is not available, immigrants eannot improve their condition by coming io New Zealand- Their com petition ran only depress wages. Mr Massey's invitation is simply a bid' for cheap labour for his friends. The irony of the situation is that Sir Joseph Ward, who also spoke, claimed years ago that New Zealand could' support a population of £0,000,000, find while I do not po so fatas that, it is no doubt true that under jut equitable land system the Dominion can accommodate a much larger population than we carry at present. Land monopoly is the'bar to closer settlement. There is only one way to remove it: by the Single Tax on lanrl values. If that measure is not adopt- i ed New Zealand will yet be occupied ! |hv an Asiatic race.—T am, etc.. I I ' VEIIAX.