The New Local Government Bill.

Feilding Star, Volume XIX, Issue 69, 18 September 1897, Page 2

The New Local Government Bill.

(By J. B. Boots.)

Little by little the Socialistic wedge is being driven home by the hammer of what is euphoniously but moil erroniously stylsd Progressive Liberalism. The final tap on the political wedge which is to split up and destroy the interests of frugality and industry in landed property, is to be dealt, if possible, next session. No measure could be more iniquitous or more hurtful to the interests of this country than the proposed representation ironically called by our law makers Improved [Representation. It was a black-letter day in the history of this colony when the franchise was degraded to its present low level to suit the exigensies of party politics ; when the mendicant and loafer classes, who obtain their bread And butter at the expense of the hard-worked and frugal settler, were placed on a voting equality with thosa who, through much hardship and self denial, have made in this land, once a waste, homos for themselves and their children. Now the injury and the hardship, if the Liberals have their way, is to be increased tenfold, inasmuch as the proposed measure practically amounts to a deprivation of the means to protect the bona fide settler or owner against the spoliative tactics of the political nomad who can, if this representation elaua* is passed, break down the doer of justice, enter our political premises, and take, through taxable processes, the cream off the hard narnings and savings of a lifetime — provided the savings be in> vested in real estate. The very thought of passing a law which permits a mere sojourner of a few months standing a legal and an equal right to control the purse-string e of its owner is monstrous. To allow tuch persons to pledge the property of others against their will, and to con'rol the expenditure of money obtained thereby, is to say the least of it a prostitution of power, and must eventually end disastrously for both the spoiler and the spoiled. .

The excuse pat forth for this very drastic and iniquitous measure by the so called progressive liberalism, is that apathy and self interest prevents the present local representatives from bringing about necessary reforms, and further that it is a, political anomaly that general and local representation should be on an unequal basis. The charge of apathy and self interest as deterrents in these matters is pure nonsense, or per haps, what is much worse, a mere pretext for the political wolf to devour the municipal lamb.

In the name of common sense and common honesty who I ask, are more likely to desire and carry out real im provements than those wbo intend to spend a lifetime on the spot which they fondly oall home, if not filched from them?

It mast be patent to every fair minded person that their interest and comfort in in every way contained therein. It is true that tb« spirit of thrift and intelligence which led them to save and invest their earnings in the place where they hope to live and die, impels them to be careful of incurring debts, public or private, or entering into engagements which would be a financial mill stone and reduce the value of their life savings to a comparative trifle, which would be the case if injudicious borrowing were resorted to. It means at best many years of heavy rates and taxes which must be paid whether times are good or bad, and while the unfortunate property owner is »truggliuj.» agaiust adverse circumstances, the political nomad will have fled from thn debt stricken spot he has created to other lands where political morality does uob take the mistaken direction ot robbing by legislative enactments tho thrifty aud the industrous settler, but where common sense ip the management of political affairs prevails, ana where tho treat national virtues of industry and frugality arecberished.