Correspondence.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 96, 19 October 1895, Page 2

Correspondence.

ANONYMOUS WRITING AND NECESSARIES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir, — I am quite satisfied with Mr Goodbehere's very mild reply to my letterr dated the 9th instant. Lawyers are adepts at getting oat of scrapes by hook or by crook. Mr Goodbehere's statement - " The fact is that Sir Walter Scott, having gained a high reputation as an author, in commencing his prose writings with the Waverley Novels he thought the safest way of preserving that reputation was to commence them anonymously. Now, this explanation is in favor of anonymous wrting, because when an author of such high reputation chooses not to sign his name, how could anyone blame young writers form acting likewise who have no reputation to lose. The fact is it encourages many writers to start writing until they have made their mark who otherwise would remain in obscurity. I may remind Mr Goodbehere that the present so-called Liberal Government has attempted more than any Government this Colony has ever had to do away with the liberty of the people, and tried also to prohibit anonymous writing, just because the acts of that Government left them open to a great deal of antagonistic but just criticism. Celebrated writers have different moods, and may write a useful article with enthusiasm, but on perusing it afterwards they may be inclined to destroy it, and, no doubt, they would oftener do so if they had to sign their 1 names to their writings. I was rather amused on reading a letter in the Stab of the 11th instant, in reply to " Fishmonger " signed by " Farmer Holdfast," who says, for reasons he need not state, he always skips letters on Freetrade by Messrs Goodbehere and " Colonist." Now, the first part of that sentence must remain a mystery to those who are not of the right color to the end of time, and the sentence is one of the most glaring examples of prejudice that I have met with since last election. On that occasion "one of 'the right color" was praisiug an article published in a Liberal paper, within fifty miles of Feilding, for its yiews in regard to some important political question, bnt I said that there are generally two sides to a question, and that be should read an article in another paper which threw quite a different light upon the subject. To this he answered that the paper he quoted from was the only paper worth reading, and that he never read any other, but how he came to the conclusion that no other paper was worth reading when he never read them was a mystery to me. For the remainder of " Farmer Holdfast's " letter it seems to me that he must have a notion of going into the fish business in opposition to " Fishmonger," and desires an increased duty on tinned imported fish, but this would only attract increased competition in that line, so I would advise " Farmer " to stick to his farm and get the best price possible for his mutton, etc., in the Home market, and to leave the fish curing industry to the teeming population and the poor of the large cities in England. "Farmer's" views on this question would only breed poverty in both countries, and a free breakfast table which he refers to at the end of his letter would become a myth. I am, etc., A Colonist. Feilding, October 12th. 1895. IN REPLY TO "FARMER HOLD-FAST." TO THE EDITOE OF THE STAB. Sib,— Without reference to his bolder dash about Protection, I would like to ask the individual who signs himself " Farmer Hold-Fast " what farmers should hold fast to ? Should they cling to a so-called Liberal Ministry, or the members who have endeavoured to impose upon them a heavy tax on binding twine only for the benefit of a company's monopoly, or for flannellete, so that a farmer, and everybody else, would have to pay 21s for what he can now buy for 14s, a concession we have to thank the Opposition for. What about imposing a heavy tax on boots for the benefit of a tew boot factories, and the same impost on agricultural machinery. It would be the same thinp, in a small way if I asked the Borough Council to put on a heavy license for aelling fish so. that no other fisherman could come here and I could charge what I liked. Why should I have such a monopoly even if I am spending all I earn here ? As for his saying the Customhouse Acts as a bank, why in last week's estimates I saw tbat nearly £65,000 have to go in expenses, big salaries, and pensions. A nice bank that. I think it would be better if we let it go into liquidation. Why do the Liberals always turn to and put heavy burdens upon the people, instead of knocking down big salaries, and economising in other ways as they have done in Victoria and South Australia ? Five or six hundred pounds a year should be big enough salaries for our Ministers, and if they could not live on that— even if they had 20 children — let them resign and call for tenders when thousands of men as good or better would offer. I wonld volunteer as Treasurer, and . think wonld do as well as Mr Ward, : although my power of jaw may not j equal his, *vnd the clerks would do the ( rest as they always have done. In Nor- , Way with 2,000,000 inhabitants, mem? j tiers of Parliament have only 13s 6d a ] day fop three mpnths with a free pas- j sage to andfpoin Parliament, Ministers , about £850 a year, and things were just ] as dear there as here. Norway had { only a State debt of about £2,000,000. ] In this little debt-ridden country, with j its debt of forty or fifty millions, Minis- \ ters who were suckled on a shovel and. j reared on a pick, think themselves < underpaid on eight hundred or a thon- \ sand a year, while added to that they \ manage to spend a few more hundred a \ year each, not counting their private \ secretaries, stumping the country like '. lords of high degree. If the real work- / log men of the colony do not take the ( alarm and above these fellows out to £ make room for better men, we will have •< to dear oat ourselves, for if the present « system of Bly borrowing is allowed to « continue, the colony will become in- p solvent whan the working men will be— fi as they always are— the victims. i ,- .^:f"' i ':° si am, &c., fc ■><■ : -'■<' v V;V''^/' ..-.■- -■ ■ FISHKBHAN. «j

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