Correspondence

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 90, 13 October 1893, Page 2

Correspondence

"VOTER'S" LETTER. to the editor op the star. Sin,—" Voter's " letter, being too flimsy _s a veil thrown over the features of bis party's politics to hide them, need not be attacked or rent; but it has giyen me an opportunity of writing a fow lines to the Star that I wished to write. I have in my posseesion a printed political paper Bent me, and signed " F. Y. Lethbridge," nnd therefore I suppose it embodies at least part of his political platform. There are five planks in it in all, two of which are inserted as padding to make the others seem respectable, and that two need not be disturbed till tbe present Opposition holds tbe reins of government. No 2 of this platform asks ns to support "An equitable system of taxation," which I suppose means returning to a propertytax, as against a land, income, and progressive tax. No 3, "To uphold freehold tenure as against government leasehold." No 5, '• To obtain the dual (or diabolical) vote for ratepayers." Now, each and all of these planks are regarded ami- Liberal all the world over, and they certainly are not in harmony with New Zealand's Liberalism ; they look extremely like old Tory dolls dressed up to lead vs — not forward to Tightness, but backward to bondage. The above proposals are advanced in " the interests of those who have a stake in the country, however small," as if any stake held in a country was comparable in importance to our human lives, or any stake endangered so much as human life when rich men only make laws. They are surely mentally shortsighted who cannot see more in our approaching contest than a tussle between Messrs Stevens and Lethbridge. It is a battle behind which stands the gigantic powers of right and wrong — the Liberal power that legislates for man, and the Tyrant of the Ages who legislates for metals ; and though Mr Lethbridge should be to Feildmgites all that " Voter " claims for him — even their right hand — we Liberals in a body, even to our youngest lassie voter, shall have to cut this right hand off in this crisis, in trying to save the people of New Zealand from disaster. We are not tojregard such nonsenseas" two decided political parties in New Zealand do not exist," nor such claptrap as " pro fessional politicians," " men who never rend Adam Smith's novels" Ac, hurled at the heads of our men by a section of the press. We have a better guide than Adam Smith, or Adam the First, and men who are only mouied parliamentarians, bnt not politicians, we do well to distrust. It is quite refreshing to find one of " Voter's" party in Feilding setting so amcb store on the " upright and decent life " of parliamentary candidates. I am. etc., Four Votes. Feilding, 12th October.