But Mr M'Kenzio reverts to tho old practice ; wo mean that his Bill docs, He does not formally, or in so many words, repeal optional tenure, bub he practically does so in giving power to tho Minister for tho time being to decido tho manner in which any particular lands shall be disposed of. This, we say, is simply undoing the best piece of work which Mr Richardson did, and ib is to bo hoped tho c is common sense enough in the House to prevent such nn un dosirablo alteration. Tho truth is that Mr M'Konzio's mind is domi nated, like that of his guide, philosi phor, and friond, Sir Robert Stout, by tho absurdest and mosb impracticable of all agrarian sohomes. To most peoplo the nationalisation of the land is only tho dream of a distempered fancy, bub the people who dream it seem to bolievo that it is tho one thing needful for tho regeneration of man kind, and our local theorists tako every opportunity of foisting it upon the colony. When Mr Rolleston, one of tho mosb liberal land Ministers wo have over had, introduced perpetual leasing, ho did so, not as a land nationalise^ but simply as a practical legislator and administrator. Ho did not intend that this particular kind of tenure should kill tho other kinds. It was an addition, not a substitution. Bub Mr M'Kenzie, though ho of course dare nob openly arow it, evi dently means his perpetual lensing to be the beginning of land nationalising. That is the difference in the matter between the Minister and the r,x- Minister. Mr Rolleston's perpetual leaseholder had the right of purchase on certain conditions and after a cer tain time, bub this right Mr M'Konzie would abolish, being, as we say, on tho high road to land nationalisation To leasing with perpetual right of renewal only there could be no great objection, provided ib was entirely optional, for in that case ib would be confined to a comparatively small area, and ib would moreover be an experimenb worth making. Bub to give the Minister tho power to say that such and such land — any land he pleases — shall only bo disposed of on perpetual loaso is quite another matter j and hero again wo hope tho House will show its com mon sense and retain the right of purchase. 