RANGITIKEI ELECTION.

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 47, 4 October 1890, Page 2

RANGITIKEI ELECTION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir,— Now that the elections are approaching I would aek all country settlers to read and inwardly digest the following extract from Mr Maoarfchur's speech in Marton as reported in the Advocate of June, 10 : — " Mr Macarthur's proposal was to devote the subsidies to the purpose of providing an insurance fund for the construction and maintenance of large bridges and the balance to making roads of access to new blocks. The object of Government subsidies was one of that nature. Many local bodies would grumble at losing their subsidies, but the money would be better employed than now, because it would be more equitably spent. The payment was based upon a wrong principle in giving mostly to those who have."

I hope the ratepayers in the Manchester and Kiwitea districts will thoroughly appreciate thiß kind proposal of Mr Maoarthur's, and by their votes effectually prevent him from carrying it into effect. The Government subsidy, which he would deprive ur of, amounts in the case of the Kiwitea Road Board, I am informed, to about .£3OO a year, and in the Manchester Board to, I supposo, a simikr amount. In Kiwitea we have been making roada which give access to and add value to the Goyernment lands beyond. The Man- | Chester Road Board have saddled themselves with large liabilities to make roads i through Corporation lands, and so enabled I Mr Macarthur to sell these lands at high prices. He now shows his gratitude by depriving the Boards of the Government subsidy, which has partly enabled them to pay the interest on these loans. I have heard statesmen argue in fayor of taxing posterity through lo.tns for roads ! and bridges, from which they will derive i benefit. Our would-be Feilding statesman is the first, and I hope the last, who propones, through hiß insurance fund, to tax us for the benefit of posterity. I have very little dou't.t the electors, by their votes, will stop thiß budding statesman from doing any further injury to us, and will send him back to that private circle he ia so w«U fitted to adorn.— l am. Ac, Wm. I\ Jacoj^ ,