RESULTS OF GOVERNMENTAL MISRULE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 160, 3 December 1872, Page 6

RESULTS OF GOVERNMENTAL MISRULE.

To the Editor of the Cromwell A Rous. Sir,—The political rulers of New Zealand are a disgrace to any civilised country. A great part of the country is in the bands of a few squatters, who have more influence in the Provincial Councils and General Assembly than any other class. The Colony cannot prosper while such a vast amount of land is locked up. As the runholders' leases expire, the Government will have the opportunity -if it be disposed to do its duty —of preventing such land monopoly for the future. The squatters and their friends have hitherto been eminently successful i;i securiw the conservation of their interests as a class ; and thus it is' that the Government, when they require any portion of a sheep-run f r mining or

agricultural purposes, have to pay as compensation to the squatter nearly as much as the land is worth. The miners arc the most enterprising speculators in the Colony ; they spend time and money in developing its mineral resources ; yet, so far freui being encouraged, they are treated with severity. They are already more heavily taxed in proportion than any other class ; yet the Covcrnment would like to tax them more heavily still. This kind of policy is something like strangling the goose that lays the golden egg. The miners have been the cause of the country advancing so rapidly in a commercial point of view. The laws and regulations made for the miners are such mysterious affairs that no miner can properly understand them : they seemed to be framed with the object of causing litigation between the miners and giving employment to lawyers. The regulations give the miner the right to do certain things, but the land laws make those rights insecure. It is high time the miners were enabled to understand their right position regarding mining-k-.-ves, waterrights, and commonage. They must, however, attend to their own business, and not trust to ! others to intercede for them in the Council Chamber. A few of the Gold-fields member have done their best in spite of the majorit' | against them in the Houses of Parliament; othci [have taken Government billets ; and the re; have been afraid to speak. The gentleman at the head of Colonial affas :is a strong-minded man. with a bold front, le ' has managed to mesmerise the most of the i»eoe in New Zealand ; but I am glad to say I am :)t : yet under his influence. It is well for him toe ! clever while he males the Colony pay fords ! cleverness ; and to bo applauded by cn<dnJrs land contractors crying out, "Bravo! go nd i get some more money : we will help yon smd i it. Never heed whether the railways will'ay for the next fifty years or not: wc want a >b.'' [n fact, they aic playing into each oter's hands for the greater part of the New Zt^nd loans. If the Government intend emitting

■ other countries in making railroads, wl not [ imitate Victoria in throwing open Crowu-auds anil spending money in the the Gold-fields wr.ter-supply, &c? Bringincimmi- ! grants to this Colony 1 compare to a rerun- ', stance that happened in this district. man had soino hces sent up from Punedin, arplaced them on his farm. They could not fimfiowers ito extract honey from ; so they new a*y- £o it will be with the immigrants : if th cannot find work, or see iluir way to earning* living, | they will leave and go to other Colonh I am, &c.. Free inker. J Bannocklmrn, Nov. 30.