TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3203, 4 October 1881, Page 2

TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1881.

Mb Sutton never, spoke better than he did last night; both in tbe treatment of his subject matter and in delivery he showed that practice was beginning to make perfect. The old hesitation was gone ; his language flowed easily,, a:ul at times rose almost to eloquence. lie had a large audience, aud one which, we think we may say, largely sympathised with him. Some bitter opponents were there in the crowded seats of ths Theatre, but they were quiet and undemonstrative. A aort of feeling prevailed that it would be out of place to show opposition on such an occasion. Mr Button's speech, ac regarded his old Napier constituents, was valedictory. But though valedictory to that extent there was nothing in it to betoken a thought of defeat iv the forthcoming contest for Hawke'e Bay. " Although the whole of the large landed proprietors are arrayed against me," he said, "I depend oa the ballot-box to again place me at the head of the poll." And there can be no doubt that he struck the right chord when hs referred to the " tremendone efforts" that are being made to secure the return of Captain Russell —tbe candidate of a class that would get rid of the tax on property and put it on the precarious incomes of these who have no property or accumulated wealth. If property is not to pay a tax; if property is not to bear the heaviest share of tbe burdens of the State, what is ? Where is the country to look for its revenue if not from the well-filled pockets of those who can afford to spare from their abundance ? Are tbe poor and the struggling always to bear the beat and burden of tbe day ? Mr Button hit the right nail on the head when he pointed out that it would take an income tax of Is 6d iv the £ to pro-

duce a tevenue equal to what the property tix now returns-. And there can be no doubt about this, that the large landed proprietors would prefer a sm&il land and iieome t&x to bne oh f>i-operty, for from the laHfer no one can escape. Whether the bond of union is " taxation" or " local government," Mr Sutton made a clever point i.v his speech when he referred ti the alleged singular alliance of Messn Ormond, Buchanan, and Captain Hussell. At all events the report haeyet to be explained if in reality the alliance etiste. We have heard it flatly contradicted on the part of Mr Buchanan's supporters, and if they have authority for their statements the electors would like to know the reason for Captain RußseU'a opposition to Mr Sutton, and tho abindonraent of the Napier aieat to Mr Bueiananv There tnay be after all more in what Mr Sutton says concerning tht bond of union than what is qow permitted to come to the surfa3e.