LANDLORDISM.

Wanganui Herald, Volume X, Issue 2696, 3 February 1876, Page 2

LANDLORDISM.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — In your leader of the 25th you quote an instance of the gross abuse of his position as landlord by one of England's aristocracy, and though I am sure it is not your wish to convey thereby that such i< the usual conduct and bearing of the noble landlords of England as a body, it might possibly be taken up by a class of shallow thinkers that such was the case, did there not exist abundant proof to the contrary by those who hare had opportunity of judging as tenant farmers in the old country ; and I would add my testimony to the fact, having myself and ancestors lived under two of , the .oldest peerages for upwards of a century' and a half, and never on any occasion having had cause to complain of any attempt at undue influence ; finding that, though' the landlord had " rights," he did not forget that he had " duties " also, and such I am proud to know are the relations now existing in England generally between the two parties, or her agriculture would notjhave made the rapid strides it has in the laat half century. The object you have in view in bringing forward the instance referred to meets with my entire accord, as there is a tendency in these Colonies to get up a species of <( ocracy," viz., a " moneyocracy" by those who have availed themselves of the 'opportunity of securing large blocks of land at nominal prices, but- who never use the land to any advantage to themselves, or allow the opportunity to more industrious men to settle on it with advantage to themselves and benefit to the locality -or country at large. This reminds me of a paragraph in your paper m reference to the Maxvrelltown Hall, and I will endeavour to throw a little more ight on that matter. We have an old proverb, " Never look a gift horse in the mouth," , but the Maxwell settlers have found to their cost the hazard of acting up to it. The facts are shortly these .: — The Hon. 0. J. Pharazyn, M.L.C., generously.oftered to the Bishop of Wellington a donation of £50 to to aicV in. building a Church at Maxwell, and promised to see that a site was provided ; but the son, without the knowledge of tho settlers, i came behind the scene and persuaded the father that the settlers preferred a Hall. • Acting on this statement the Bishop waived his claim, and (not, knowing ,the-beforemen-tioned circumstances) the settlers set about a subscription for a Hall, which was liberally responded to, assisted by many kind friends in Wanganui. Mr B . Pnarazyu offered the site as' a free gift ; but the conveyance of it- was from time to time delayed on some plausible excuse or other till the Committee resolved, on the faith of the promise, to commence, a building worthy the name of a Hall, and borrow a considerable sum beyond the amount of donations. When the building was completed and fitted up, (and not till, then) lo and behold ! the conveyance comes to hand, but the gift (?.) was so bound up by conditions that the Committee were utterly; prevented from obtaiuing the proposed loan leaving them in the dilemma of .indebtedness to the, tuue ofup.wards.or", JGIOO, and this great advocate for local improvement leaving tho settlers io chew the cud of disappointment. DoevS not this show how this woukUbe M.L. . would lunl it over us if he could ? What might we not have expected from him (had we given him the power at our recent election) of back-stair influence of which we have had so n any types. But that election is happily a convincing proof that the people have too much sound sense to again be ledaway by fair promises, thirty-six only being too blind or too subservient, to dive boneath the flimsy veil of sophistry. Trusting, Mr Editor, I have not drawn too much on yonr valuable space, I am., Yours, &c, A LoOKKfi Otf. Maxwelltown, Jan. 31,