CROWN TENANTS V. THE "PEOPLE."

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12941, 4 December 1909, Page 4

CROWN TENANTS V. THE "PEOPLE."

Two passages in the Premier's remarks on the land question, in the House on Thursday, arrest attention. He said that the great majority ot the Crown tena.it-. had tinned ri<jht round in favour of t!,e freehold, and "he complained that his critics did not realise this. Then he remarked that the will of the majorityof the people must prevail. One would Tilro to ask what the Premier meant by the "people." His attitude on the land ques tion, and the toie of the speech referred to, suggest that he imagines, because a majcrity of Crown tenants desire the freehold, they are bound to be given it. But they are oiily a small section of the "people." And if the majority of the "people — not of the Crown tenants—express their will that the national lands shall be kept, which majority will the Premier bow to? Are a few individuals to have all they cry out for, or are the interests of tho nation to be the Premier's first consideration? The two remarks aoove quoted seem to a large extert to contradict wrh other. Or does Sir Jc.G"ph Ward mistake the Crown tenants for the people?"