256 



The Review of Reviews. 



March SO, 1906. 



Church is coming to realise more fully than ever 

 that the Gospel of Christ in its mission and mes- 

 sage is not only individual, evangelical, philanthropic, 

 but economic. As someone has said, "■ It has to do 

 not only with the spiritual and physical needs of 

 the individual — but with home management, city 

 management, State management." 



" What present subsidiary institutions have you, 

 and are they likely to be extended ?" 



" A large and well-equipped Hospice or Shelter 

 for the homeless and despairing. We have, in con- 

 nection with this, accommodation for 70 people each 

 night, and we provide about 200 meals daily. We 

 strive to administer the affairs of this institution 

 without paup>erising the recipients. To every ap- 

 plicant we give two meals and a bed, but, if further 

 help is needed, work has to be done in order to 

 earn it. We have a Labour Bureau through which 

 agency we find employment for 400 persons annually. 

 Our South Yarra Home for fallen women has 

 an average of about 30 inmates ; this has proved a 

 home of refuge and mercy to many a poor sin-stained 

 woman. We have also a large farm for the training 

 of ' out-of-hand ' boys. WV endeavour to save boys 

 before they reach the criminal stage, though some 

 are not far from it. We are trying the experiment 

 of not asking for Govtrnment subsidy, and have, so 

 far, been entirely successful. 



The Bichloride of Gold Institute for Inebriates 

 has fully justified its establishment. A large percen- 

 tage of the patients treated are now living sober 

 lives. We expect to largely extend those agencies 

 and add others in connection with the work of the 

 new mission. 



" Is the movement likely to help to evolve any of 

 our pressing problems, such as the Drink Evil, thr 

 (Gambling Evil, Prostitut'.on. the Housing Problem. 

 Unemployment. Land Settlement for the Unemploy- 

 ed Institutions to Combat Public-House Evils, etc.?" 



" We think the movement will certainly be a con- 

 tribution to the solution of pressing problems — such 

 as the Drink Evil, Gambling Evil and Society Purity. 

 We propose to wage war against every foul slum, 

 and the unhealthy and indecent overcrowding of the 

 ]xx)r in such miserable houses as we find in many 

 parts of the city. We will fight till there is left no 

 sweating den, no gambling hell, no brothel, no drink 

 shop ; we will co-operate with all those who seek 

 the betterment of women and children living under 

 conditions of neglect and semi-starvation. A society 

 called the '• Methodist Guild " has already been 

 established — with branches in the prominent cen 

 tres — for the study of Social Problems of this kind 

 — ^and we intend that the practical side will be car- 

 ried on in our mission enterprises. We hope to 

 make th<-m rallying prhif^ for the extension of Social 

 Reform.' 



LXXII-A VICTORIAN MINISTER'S IMPRESSIONS OF SOME NEW 



ZEALAND MATTERS: 



MR. GEO. SWINBURNE, M.L.A. 



Mr. Swinburne, the Victorian Minister for Water his own landlord. Let him buy his freehold on long 



Supply, has been touring New Zealand, and as he is terms if necessary, and then prevent the aggrega- 



one of the most observant of men, and visitors' im- tion of large estates by a Progressive Land Tax. 



pressions are always interesting when the spectator It was interesting in New Zealand to note how every- 



is keenly interested in making comparisons for the body of all shades of opinion, land-owners, and 



sake of getting infomiation as Mr. Swinburne is, lease-holders were in favour of a Progressive Land 



his views upon certain outstanding features of New 

 Zealand's legislation and administration must prove 

 particularly interesting. Seeing that Victoria is now 

 moving very fast with regard to land settlement, 

 Mr. Swinburne's impressions with regard to New 

 Zealand's land legislation were sure to be instruc- 

 tive. Of course every one in Australia knows 

 the plans she has adopted with regard to her 999 

 years' leases, and her leases in perpetuity, and ^Ir. 

 Swinburne is in no doubt in his views upon this 

 much-debated question. 



With regard to it, he said, " I am strongly op- 

 posed to the New Zealand svstem of land leases in 



Tax. It seems to me that it gives the greatest 

 benefit with far fewer disadvantages than even the 

 leasing with re-valuation. Of course the principle 

 on which New Zealand has gone in the past, that 

 of leasing the land in perpetuity without any re- 

 valuation, is most mischievous. There never was a 

 better system invented, I think, by which people who 

 simply happen to be successful at the ballot are 

 provided with an opportunity of securing a big 

 profit, without risk or with comparatively little 

 capital. Besides, all the leases are outside the scope 

 of the land tax at present. The New Zealand peo- 

 ple, however, have undoubtedly determined on a 



perpetuity. Even though there may be re -valuations policy of small holdings, and show even an anxiety 



as often as once in twenty years, so many side to abolish the large landed proprietor." 



issues creep in, that I do not think the State gains " Is there any possibility of a Progressive Land 



any advantage in becoming the universal landlord. Tax being adopted here?" 



It seems to me that it is better to make ever}- man " I think it is coming within the range of prac- 



