The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1890

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 52, 18 October 1890, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1890

Political — — ♦ Although we do not pretend to agree with Mr Jeilicoe, who is a candidate for one of the Wellington seats, in all the lines of policy he advocates, yet there is a delightful frankness in the man which commands a certain amount of respect. He is perfectly outspoken and, as might be expected, as perfectly fearless. In his recent speech at Wellington, he endeavored to teach tbe electors there a useful lesson, when he advised them to return members to Parliament who, instead of quarrelling with the country mem ers who were in the majority, would compel their respect and secure attention to the just demands of the laboring classes, and also obtain a weight in Parliament quite beyond that of their mmc nnmbers. In this Mr Jeilicoe touched the weak spot in Wellington representation in the past, because it is notorious the Wellington members have never worked cordially together under any circumstances whatever. No doubt Mr Jeilicoe was thinking of this when he said . something more than local . questions were to be at stake now ; and there were not to be fights over half a mile of railway or the expenditure of a few thousands on a public building. It was imperative that men should be returned who were able to cope with the representatives of the great pastoral and agricultural interests. On the subject of taxation Mr Jeilicoe avowed himself a Freetrader, although he did not believe in closing the Custom-houses and making a single tax on land. He thought the single-taxers were more enthusiastic than practical. His idea of taxation was simply to raise revenue at the least possible cost of the people. With respect to education he could not see ho ,v tho national system would be destroyed by justice being done to the people whose religious convictions prevented them sending their children to the State schools. He instanced the mode which obtains iv England, but Mr Jeilicoe, like many others, forgot to take into consideration the fact that there is a State religion in England; but none in New Zealand, all sects being on a per feet footing of equality. However, although we differ on this point with Mr Jeilicoe we give his opinions all the respect they deserve. As is hi* custom he puts his finger on the weak spot of our system — its' tremendous cost — which threatens to break it dowD. Mr Jeilicoe believes in making the land for settlement obtainable on easy terms, and made easy of access, and like all sensible men, advocates the conservation of Ci owu and Native lands. He ridicules Henry George* denunciation of the owners of land, and said he had too much regard for the laws which secured to every man that which he bad acquired under their authority, " whether it was a night- cap, a billy, or a hundred acres of laud." If industry and thrift were to exist that which they acquired must be secured to the owner, at the same time he would zealously guard : the lauds now unoccupied from absorption in large holdings, or by those who are already considerable owners. His uuggestion that Native lands should be resumed by the Government, reserves being set aside by the Crown, and payment made for the land taken, by annuities, is worthy of careful consideration. His exposure of the strike movement was masterly. Our contemporary, the Post, in concluding a notice of tho speech, says it is dsubti'ul whether it will improve Mr Jellicoe's chance of election. The doubt is reasonable, because Mr Jeilicoe has spoken too frankly to please the proletariat, while his honest utterances on the land question will certainly offend the wealthy classes.