MATTERS POLITICAL.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 179, 1 February 1896, Page 2

MATTERS POLITICAL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — As our member— who is supposed to represent the people, i.e., the ideas and opinions of the people of this electorate — will soon address us on the ■ work of the past session, allow me to draw the attention of electors through : your columns to two matters only: (1) The number of public Bills introduced into the House last session, viz., 177; and (2) to the extravagance, public not private, of the Premier. In regard to the 177 public Bills presented to Parlia* ment 92 passed, and the rest — 85 — were dropped or otherwise disposed of. We have been told time after time from the public platform in all parts of the colony that this self-styed " Great Liberal Party " is only carrying out the will of the people, which is all bunkum, for I have no hesitation in saying that not a single individual in this electorate — including our memberjand all the lawyers, knows the provisions of all of these Bills. Therefore, it follows that this "Great Liberal Party " is aot carrying out the will of the people, but is trying to force certain laws — many of them of a danger? ous and tyrannous character — on the/ country. If we had the Referendum I venture to say that not more than a dozen of these Bills would have been accepted by the people. In regard to the extravagance of the Premier, let me say that thrift is a virtue and, also, a vice. Thrift is a virtue in a laboring man or a small tradesman, who saves money to better his condition .or to extend his works, thereby giving more employment to others. The £100,000 spent by Mrs Vanderbilfc on her daughter's wedding with the Duke of Marlborough, was not extravagance, but a virtue, as this money was taken from her superfluous wealth, and distributed among florists, tradesmen, and others, and if our Premier were to spend his private means lavishly I should not think of commenting on the same; but the present Government got into power because they deluded the people of the colony into the belief that they were going to be a non-borrowing! economical, Government. In Switzerland, with a population of 3,000,000, the Premier gets only £540 per annum ; now let us contrast this with our Premier's expenses, a Premier professing to be a working man, and the friend of working men. Premier's salary, £1000 per annum ; household allowance, £200 ; travelling expenses last year, £853 13s 7d ; expenses of Native tour, £253 7s sd ; Total, £2312 Is. To this must be added the cost of, running the Hinemoa whenever used by the Premier ; also, the cost of the special trains so often run on the Government lines ; and, also, cab hire. It is reported that the amount drawn by the Premier for cab hire during the late financial year is more than sufficient to pay the rent of a first-class family mansion for the same -year. Now it must be borne in mind that all the above comes out of the public purse. ;No wonder the Treasurer had to increase the customs duties to squeeze a little more money out of hard working men to pay for these and like extravagances. j Surely this will clear the dust out of the. eyes of those who supported Mr Seddoh r and bis party at the last election. I am, etc., George Wilks. Feilding, 29th January, 1896.