THE " HERALD" AND THE FREEHOLD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12383, 2 December 1909, Page 4

THE " HERALD" AND THE FREEHOLD.

—— —4»> :— —- Tun "Herald" has given our article on the freehold it's serious consideration. On Tuesday evening it was content to toy irrelevantly with an isolated extract twisted to suit its own purpose. Our statement of an obvious fact, i.e., that a freeholder had a greater incentive to nght for his country than obtained in the case of a leaseholder, was clumsily and inexcusably cited as an imputation against the loyalty and patriotism of New Zealanders. As we mentioned yesterday morning, the "Herald's" present attitude towards tlio political leaders to whom it has hitherto sworn unswlsrving allegiance scarcely entities it to pose as an exponent of loyalty and patriotism. So far as the "Chronicle" is,concerned, its loyalty to its political principles and its patriotic concern for the national welfare are qualities which we- prize too highly to make them a theme of disciirsio:> with a contemporary incapable of appreciating the blessing of a fixed principle or the joy of loyal service in a good cause. Last evening, howover, tha "Herald" ventured some further scrappy and disjointed references to the article over winch it lias been worrying for tho pnst two or three! day?. The first of thcsr> references is virtually an admission of the accuracy of our assertion that the freehold sentiment is dominant both in the country ar:d in Parliament, the fact being used !:y tho '-Herald" to point a moral for tlio Labour Unions of the Dominion. The Farmers' Union having successfully concentrated its efforts on the preservation of the freehold, tho "Herald" plaintively suggests that the Labour Unions should make the leasehold "the" ■cardinal plank in their platform. The Labour Unions aro not likely to do

anything so stupid, for the very good find sufficient reason that the average member of a trade union is at heart a staunch freeholder, owning, or desiring to own, his own little bit of real estate, and possessing a strong sentimental objection to settling on a leasehold plot. The next point on Avhich the "Herald ' impales itself relates to our assertion that "it says very little for our statesmen if they cannot devise some method by which the owners of largo estates can be induced to subdivide their properties." Here, says the "Herald," is a chance for Mr Masfey who. after so many years in the House, has so far been, unable to solve the problem. Is it necessary for us to remind our contemporary that Mr Masis ey is merely the Leader of the Opposition, and that it is to the occupants of the Ministerial benches that we are supposed to look for the solution of our national problems? The Opposition stands for the principle of the freehold and the restriction of the size of holdings, and ivhen Mr Massey is afforded the opportunity of giving legislative effect to that policy he will "earn the undying gratitude of thousands of v. orkers who (under the reigning ad- . ministration) sse no prospect ahead but incessant toil for a bare living wage." The concluding allusion which . the "Herald" makes to our arguments in favour of the freehold, takes the form •ol an assertion—supported only by figures which lack an honest connection with the argument—that the cost ol: reading' the country falls on the State rather than on the individual. We hesitate to believe that the "Herald" expects its readers to swallow such an obviously fallacious contention. Into whatever part of the country it may choose tti go, it will find tho settlers paying heavily for their roads, and in some parts it will find struggling pion-

eers actually paying for roads long promised but neve/ made. The man, for •vvliom the country roads are made pays

j through the Customs his share of the interest en the national debt, and in addition he pays special rates and ordinary maintenance rates for his roads. We dealt fully with this aspect of tho question in our original article, and if tha "Herald" is willing to put the position fairly and squarely before its readers, let it publish our argument in extenso.'