COMMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1834, 8 April 1884, Page 2

COMMENTS.

The land ! This is the burning question of our day. While we here in this country are worrying ourselves devising plans for settling the land and finding outlets for its products, our brethren in the Mother Country are asking themselves the question, How shall we make our lands support our growing population ?— how shall we order matters in regard to our land so as to bridge over the great gulf that yawns between the very rich and the very poor ? These questions do not affect us keenly yet, but in Great Britain the questioners are waiting impatiently for an answer. When will this answer come, and what shape will it take ? A revolution there must be, but of what sort ? Loyal Englishmen pray in their hearts that it may be a bloodless one, that it may be unaccompanied by any of those fury fires which lit up the great struggle across the Channel. They need have no fear on that score. For one thing the natural instincts of Englishmen are not brutal ; besides which, the conditions of life, politically as well as socially, have vastly changed since the cioseof thelastcentury. England has no need of revolutions to give effect to the popular will. The will of the people just now is that there should be a fairer division of profits, and how do the people propose to attain their end ? Let us devote a moment to the enquiry. Not long ago there arose in America a certain man named Henry George, who conscientiously conceived that he had i discovered the philosopher's stone, that the panacea for all the ills which spring from social and political inequality had been revealed to him. He wrote a book in which he demonstrated to his own satisfaction the efficacy of his remedy ; and this remedy lay in the nationalisation of the land. The character of Henry George is what is called "thorough"; | he saw, or it was pointed out to him, that on business principles his theory was impracticable, that is to say, that if j the present owners of the land were to be paid to give it up for the good of the nation, nationalisation would, practically speaking, be an impossibility ; but this broad statement of fact in no way disconcerted him. What did he do ? He at once advocated the seizure of all land without compensation, on the plea that the present owners obtaiued it unjustly. A man, he argues, has no more right to the land than the purchaser of a horse ha<3 to the animal provided it had been stolen, and instead of the people having to pay for the land, the present holders thereof should be compelled to render up the profits which they have for bo many years unjustly absorbed. This, of course, opens up a wide question, and involves a consideration of the rights of all the recipients of the wealth which the land has produced (for, of course, this wealth could not have been buried.) But it is not our purpose to enquire into that matter. What most concerns us, who watch with more or less interest the atlairs of our kinsfolk across the ocean, is, What response do Englishmen make to the appeals of this George the Fifth, as Mr Labonchere called him ? Mr George has followed up his book in person, and at latest accounts was "doing" the provinces, lecturing to the English people on the land question. The man is not so successful as the book. The average Englishman will lead aluiostauything, but he will not listen to anything ; he may smile over "Moses' Mistakes," but he would hiss Col. Ingei-soll off a public platform if he dared to preach blasphemy to him. And so it is with "Progress and Poverty." It is pleasant to read of a method whereby, to use the words of the Pall Mall Gazette, we may take a short cut to the millenium, but when a man stands on a platform and calmly proposes that we should rob the landowners, it is more than the flesh and blood of an Englishman can stand. A certain class of demagogues may clap their hands and stamp their feet, but the mass of the people are silent, or voiceful only to condemn. Again, England is the paradise of the Press. And what do the newspapers .say ? The Conservative journals naturally laugh at Mr George; nothing else could be expected of them ; but what does the Liberal and Radical press aay ? Of the latter the Echo thinks Mr George fails to estimate the strength of the Conservative forces in English society ; the Pall Mall Gazette says that land nationalisation, minus compensation, is simply wholesale robbery plus cant ; the Daily News, the great Liberal organ, does not believe the scheme advocated by Mr George has the slightest chance of being adopted, though the agitation may be the means of hastening many needed reforms. The Times, which just now is Liberal also, remarks that land, however divided, can only support a certain number of persons. When this number had been exceeded, as it soon would be, the present state of poverty would recur with intensified force. Men suffering from their own idleness, or vice, or folly, or incompetence, or from those of their parents, would be no more contented than they now are to put up with the consequences of their defects. They would cry out as loudly as they now do for justice, as they would be pleased to term it, and a Mr Henry George of the future would come to prove them in the right. A well-known Scotch journal published in the interests of the agricultural class — the North British Agriculturist— in its issue of the 13th February, says :— " It is not likely that Mr Henry George in his lectures throughout the country will materially advance the questions of the 1 land for the people,' or the 'nationalisation of the land.' He has begun, and indeed is proceeding, on the wrong tack to accomplish much in that direction. Whatever differences of opinion may exist as regards the propriety or otherwise of very large tracts of country being the property of one man ; whatever may be thought of the proposal that the State should hold the land in trust for the people, there is, happily, substantial unanimity that the present or future holders on the same lines should not be dispossessed without getting full compensation.'' We need go no further. A remedy there must be found for the evils of the present system, but it is clear that, in our time at least, it will not be based on the principle of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

It used to be an article of faith in the colony— whether it is now we know not that no man conld hope to prosper until he got into debt. And if this was true of men, it was equally so of corporations ; and equally, we doubt not, of churches. Indeed, while we know the Church is prospering, it is a fapt that scarcely one of its temples— in this country at least— is out of debt. But if it be justifiable, and even honourable to owe money, there must be a limit beyond which it is not safe to go. This boundary appears to have been overstepped by the congregation of the Anglican Church of S. Matthew, in Dunedin. The Press Association informs us that the mortgagees of this church have notified that unlew the arrears of interest are paid immediately, and «atis. factory arrangements made for the principal, they will foreclose. The vestry have collected £1000, and require £600 by the 9th inst., on which day the question' be settled. All churchmen have been asked foir assistance, but difficulty ia experienced iv Qonue^uenfle of

the commercial depression. The total liabilities, the message adds, are £5600. Here we have evidence, not, only of the free and' easy way people | sail into debt, but also of the singular vitality of the Church of England, and the open-heartedness of those who really believe iv religion. Dunertin is the home of Presbyterianism; douce and dour, the majority of the inhabitants have no sympathy with a form of religion that involves surplices and altars, and yet, bad times and all, the vestry have collected £1000, and require, and, from the tone of the telegram, expect £600 before the 9th ! And these energetic efforts are the more to be commended, because, unlike any other property, it is difficult to see what the mortgagees, were they to carry out their threat and foreclose, could do with the churcli. The most they could hope to do with it would be to let it to the congregation, who would be in a position to make very easy terms, and to whom the owners would | probably be very glad, eventually, to sell the building at considerably less than £5,600. But religion is not based on commercial principles, and the gentlemen who hold the mortgage over S. Matthew's show by their threats that they know this perfectly well.

It will be seen by advertisement over the leader that Mr F. A. Whitaker, M.H.R., will address the electors of WaipA in the Public Hull, Kihikihi, on Saturday next. Mr James Macandrew, MH.R., for Port Chalmers, is at present on a visit to the Hot Lake district. The Cambridge Roman Catholic Bazaar has been definitely fixed for ApJil 30th and May Ist, the two days of the foithcoming Cambridge races. The first meeting of the third session of the Cambridge Mutual Impro cement Association has been postponed till the first Tuesday evening in May. * The adjourned meeting of the Kirikiriroa Koad Board was hold on Saturday, but the business was of no public importance. The Comus Dramatic Club will give the second performance for the season in the Oddfellow's Hull, Hamilton, on Tuesday next, for honoraiy member* and their friends. Mr J. S. Buckland held a sale of horses at Gwynne's Hotel on Satuiday. There was a good attendance, and a large number of horses were brought foiward, the majority of which found buyers at fair rates. We are glad to have to state that Mr Jno. Hutchins^n, of Orakau, who met with a serious riding accident on the swamp road a few days ago, is gradually rocovciing from his injuries, which were of a very painful character. Mr W- M. Hay's bill of costs against the Hamilton Borough Council for £23 having been refeired to the Taxing ' Officer at Auckland, without due authoiity from the council, it was lesolved at last ' night's meeting that pioceedings be btayed, • and the bill passed for payment. 1 The usual fortnightly meeting of ' the "Wesleyan Band of Hope was held last > evening .\t Hamilton. There was a laige t attendance, Mr Geo. French presiding. A t very interesting programme was gone j through, consisting of readings, recitations, v, solos and duets. > A man named William Watson : was charged at the Hamilton Police Court, yesterday, with drunkenness and with re1 fusing to leave an hotel when lequested. , The charge having been proved, prisoner I was fined os and costs for the fust, and £1 and costs for the second offence, with the 1 usual alternative. The money was paid. I The usual monthly meeting of the Hamilton Road Board wo& held on Satur- } day. Present: Messrs Atkinson (chair- } man), Way, Ridler and E\elby. It was > resolved that the annual meeting be held ) on the 3id May, at noon. Some loutine 3 business was tiansacted, and accounts 3 passed for payment, and the board 1 adjourned. 3 On Sunday last the Rev. R. O'C. 2 Biggs p.ud his monthly visit to Huutly," 3 T.iupiri and Ngaiuawahia. The Rev. Mr 2 Peicival, of Auckland, took the sen ices at I S. Peter'h, Hamilton, and pleached an excellent sermon in the evening from Phil. 111., 20. There was a large congregation. c The collection was in aid of the Home Misc sion Fund. { We have to acknowledge the receipt of the current number of the New 1 Zealand and Australian Bee Journal, a c publication which continues to increase in • interest month by month, and which the i apiarist must now feel to be an indibpenss able boon. We are also in receipt of Mr s J. R. Randerson's monthly Property, Stock i and Share Circular. s The railway works are making I fair progress. Messrs Mullinger and Brett c are pushing on with the ballasting of the 0 Waikato-Thames line, and Mr Lovett has made a good show on the Cambridge ' branch. The contractor for the station buildings has commenced work, and the ' Hamilton East station is fairly under » weigh. So far as we can judge, it pio- • mises, like most of its fellows, to be a model ■I of architectural beauty. ? The following is the text of the II resolution to have been brought forwaid by ' ! Mr Hatrick at the recent public meeting t which has been handed to us byhw Worship , the Mayor :— "That the trustees of the Vol- ; unteerHall having, ingoodfaioh, allowed Mr 1 KnoX to take the sole control and iuanagey ment of the hall, this meeting is of opinion ff that Mr Knov has not conducted the business of the hall in an equitable manner, and X immediate steps should be taken to have the management of the hall placed on a 3 more satisfactory basis." r The Church Gazette for April pub- ', lishes a list of those Sunday School pupils a who have won the Bishop's prizes. The c examination took place in February, and r the subjects were the Books of Samuel, St. q Luke's Gospel, and the Catechism. The ', examiners were the Rev. Dr. Kinder, Mr r H. G. Seth Smith, M.A., and Mr Heath, el There were eighty-nine candidates, and the c following are the names of the Waikato y pupils who secured prizes : — Giade I. Miss • Nellie K. Sandes, Miss Jeanie Bigg.s, and X Miss Bessie Sandes. Grade 11. Mi^s a Alice M. H. Sandes. All four are pupils r of S. Peter's, Hamilton. A The following special messages to ': the Press Association, dated London, tl April 4fch, have been published :-Mr ~ Charles Reade, the well-known novelist, is ;s reported to be dying.— Severe cyclones .t have occurred in America, doing enormous, is damage to property, and killing thirty [I people. — Lord Rosebery has given notice of c his intention, after the Easter recess, to „ n'ove a motion in the House of Lords on the Recidivistes question.— The betting on the University Boat Race is 15 to 8 on 0 Oxford. \l A series of Sunday evening f lectures, to be delivered in the Cambridge Wesleyan Church, has been arranged. The' ie first lecture of the series was delivered on ie Sunday evening last by the Rev. 11. R. ;e Dewsbury, the subject being "The Sin j c Unpardonable." The church was well i\ filled, and the lecture, which was both mee teresting and instructive, was listened to > c with much attention. A lecture has been j. arranged for every Sunday evening till a June 29th, and the subjects have already 1 been decided upon. The lecturers are the I s Revs. H. R. Dewsbury, Oliver Dean, J. ** Dukes and Mr J. Newbold. Judgment was given in the Te y Whetu case at the sitting of the Land Court, Cambridge, yesterday morning. The judgment will be found in full elsewhere in 16 this issue. The natives appear to consider >*> the judgment a very lucid one, and it apsr pears to give general satisfaction. It will is be remembered that this case was brought i- before the sitting of the Land Court at ,f Cambridge in December, 1882, when the , c then judge and assessor not agreeing as to fc how it should be decided, it collapsed, and • has been allowed to stand over until the 'f present sitting. The court adjourned at ' , Cambridge yesterday to Kihikihi, where it [ c will come up with the Maungafcautari case i* on the 22nd Jnat. 18 In response to Mr Reynolds' invir" tation, about forty gentlemen met at Duneie din on Friday to discuss the propriety of n forming a Constitutional Association. Mr is Reynolds opened the, proceedings by a ih lengthy speech, in wbibh he quoted figures jf to show that Otago ,and Canterbury, had g . not baeo grante4 a fair 'share of public ex- ;. pendltuve, and ha expressed the opinion , that the Government were doing every,Jj thing in their power to centralise all things in Wellington. The principal speakers s " were Messrs R. Stout, R. Gillies, James ;n; n Smith, W. D. Stewart^ and H. Bastings. *• A variety of opinions were ,expressed as to

tion, "and eventually a committee' was i,, formed to report to another . meeting "in a fortnight. The Calcutta correspondent of the Times telegraphs that thVllbert Bill , controversy has a last been happily Bettled l a compromise on the following terms r having been arranged between the Govern- ' ment and the Angle-Indian Defence * Association :•' No distinction will be made c between European and sessions judges, or ( . district magistrates, as regards judiisdic- * tion over European British subject. l But every European British subject who may be charged before a session judge or district magistrate, whether he be European or native, and whatever be the offence charged, may claim to be tried by a jury, the majoiity of whose members are to be his own countrymen. This right may bo exercised even in districts to which the jury system has not yet been extended. The maximum sentence which a^ district magistrate may impose upon a European will be increased from three to six months' imprisonment.' 1 The leaders of the opposition consider this arrangement to be satisfactory, as it completely safeguaids tho libeities of European by restoring to them their ancient constitutional right to travel by jury, of which they were partially deprived in 1872, The recent meteorological disturbances form the subject of a very elaborate article in the Edinburgh Scotsman, in which, commenting on Great Britain's experience of them, it remarks :—: — " If the recent magnificent sunsets have no direct connection with the terrific windstorm that had swept our islands from the British Channel to the Orkneys, they immediately preceded it. In popular memory at least, they will be clo«ely assoc iated as parts of the most remarkable series of atmospheric phenomena witnessed ! for many a year. The gorgeous and I threatening procession of clouds was the > prelude to a tempestuous play. The heavens seemed to forbode disasters, and disasters have come thick and fast. As in ' the vision of Apocalypse, the sun became i as sackcloth and the moon as blood, and then followed the mighty rushing wind. Most piobably it will be found that there is '• a very intimate connection between the un- ' usual appearance of the heavens and the ' extraordinaiy meteorological disturbance tlnough which wo are passing. The atinoL sphere having lost tone, natuie is making i violent effoits to restore the disturbed i balance." 1 Mr Federli's idea of establishing a farm for the raising of subf tropical products, such as silk, the olive . and the viue, has met with warm approval s in Auckland. We have already published a an account of the proceedings taken by the r Auckland Institute, and we notice with pleasure that the Auckland Chamber of l Commerce has also taken up the question I with spirit. At a meeting of that body on Thuisday last, Mr Federli delivered an £ addiess similar in effect to that given at ' Cambridge, and Piofessor Blown, of the ' Univeisity, and Mr Comiskey, who attended as a deputation fiom the Institute, S spoke strongly in favour of Mr Fedeili's r view*,. Mi J. C. Fnth made, an niteiest- ■> ing speech, in which he pointed out in y foicible language the necessity for embarkt ing in new and pi oh" table mdustiics, and Ij dwelt at lencrth on the suitability of the climate of New Zealand, and especially of f the couuti y north of Auckland for sub-tiopi-,t cal productions. He concluded by moving the • c following lesolution, which was seconded by { Mr Coiniskcy and earned unaminou&l :— 0 " For the successful establishment of sub- , tropical industries in the colony, this ' chamber lecommends : That the Government bu urged to introduce a bill during ? next session of Parliament to pro\ ide a sub- ,' sidy of £1000 per annum for hve yeaiv, to j" be paid, under proper conditions, to a comJ" pany to be foimed, with a capital of ?T £10.000 ; also, to piocure not less than ten families from the South of Europe with the Ie necessary technical knowledge ; and that a concession of blocks of land of suitable c quality in various districts be set apai t, of f- an area of not less than 1000 acres in all ; ra nd that the chairman of the chamber be is requested to forwaid this resolution to the id Hon. Mr Bolleston."— Mr Daigaville, ie M.H.R., who was pieseut, said that this fes matter had very pioperly come before the •d Chamber of Commerce, and they had done wisely in discussing it as they had, as ( it 1 was a mattei of public interest. The Goy'- vermnent had hugely endowed an agiicul\l tin al college and other institutions of that a* kind in other parts of the colony. They * might faiily go before the Government :i" with the piesent pmposal. He would be n veiy glad to assist the object within reasonS I able conditions, by every means in his power. _^ —