The Evening Star TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4112, 2 May 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1876.

TV hat consummate hypocrisy it is on the part of Mr Reid and the journals that support his action to pretend to sympathy with the working classes. For mouths past the ' Daily Times * has been trying to prepare, the public for the monster laud sales that are again this morning persistently advocated. The first “try on’* was Sir F. D. Bell’s preparation-for-election speech, in which he proposed to sell so-called pastoral land to runholders at 10s an acre. We pointed out at the time that this was the beginning of a movement in anticipation of the falling in of the pastoral leases. The motion was a feeler, but it was too broadly put and had no seconder. As it was evident that proposition found no favor with the public, a wilier dodge was tried, and the services of our morning contemporary enlisted to prepare the way for a begin-" ning. It seems to have been felt that the lines were difficult to assault, and that a direct approach would be strenuously resisted; so the first move was made under cover, and with no apparent bearing upon the object aimed at. “ Classification of land” was the theme, and article after article was published in the * Daily Times ’ to show the necessity for it. Gradually the scheme developed itself, and although it seemed so directly contrary to the best interests of Otago that it could hardly bo expected to succeed, wc felt it our duty to warn the public as to its meaning, No doubt many believed our objection was a mere newspaper quarrel, that the warning was a somewhat fir-fetched device, and therefore passed it by with a smile, or called it “nonsense.” But it has proved otherwise. Whether through sympathy with the class, or from some other

cause less praiseworthy—we do not care to inquire—most certainly the whole tendency of the advocacy of the * Daily Times ’ is that the laud of Otago shall pass into the hands of capitalists, and in this purpose that journal has been aided to the utmost by the Provincialist party. The movement has for the moment been frus-. trated hut it will bo again renewed. The Waste Land Board has stood the true friend of the people, and has refused to be cajoled by falsehood or terrified by threats. At last a barrier has been found against convenient evasions of the law, and Mr Reid’s words have found expositors who have with stood his attempted works. The last phase

of the agitatiou is to enlist the working classes on their side, and to bring pressure from without to bear upon the deliberations of the Waste Laud Board. Nothing can be more dastardly and unfair. The Board has nothing whatever to do with providing revenue to prosecute works in hand. Their duties are not political: they are merely administrative. They have a law to guide them, and their duties are simply and faithfully to administer it. That law was attempted to be evaded in a most glaring manner. Had the Waste Land Board weakly yielded to the request of the Executive, the argument would have been, “See what difficulties Provincialism has saved you from. Do not imagine the General Government would have helped you through.” But as this adcaptandum plea will not work the more desperate step of bringing distress upon vast masses of the people is to be resorted to, if wc may believe the fresh tactics announced by the ‘Daily Times.’ It is quite within the power of the Executive to do this, although we do not think j* them base enough to venture upon such a • step. One thing is plain however ; If 'Provincialism is to be abolished and that it is dead is absolutely certain—the General Government must accept the responsibilities entered into by the Provincial authorities; and if so, why not at once endeavor to make such arrangements with the General Government as will render sacrifices of any description unnecessary ? The Provincial Executive are

really making this matter a question of Provincialism versus Abolition, and are showing themselves determined to maintain their position, no matter who suffers, or a twhat sacrifice. That it is quite unnecessary to make concessions to contractors in order to induce them to employ fewer laborers or to commit the absurdity of withdrawing contracts entered into, everyone knowing the resources of the Province must be well aware of. Our riches are the same whether spent locally, administered by a Provincial Executive, or under the authority of the General Government; and if it was expedient to enter into those contracts, it is expedient to carry them into execution. The real hitch is identical with Mr Reid’s formerly displayed obstinacy when lie brought such distress upon the Province by refusing to bring a land law into operation. He is one of that very obstinate class of animals that will not worn; unless he can pull in his own track. That he changes it pretty often there can be no doubt. With a Stafford he can be a Centralist, against a Vogel a Provincialist: when opposed to the Superintendent an obstructor of public works ; when aiming to be Superintendent an advocate of them at any price; once a bitter enemy of his Honor and pulling against him, now a fast friend and cordial co-workcr; once a squatter’s bore, and now a squatter’s advocate. What color next, Mr Reid ? Go you know what reptile changes according to its neighbor’s tints ?