Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JULY 8, 1890. Protection.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 8 July 1890, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JULY 8, 1890. Protection.

* The Premier assertß that " our prosperity as a co'ony undoubtedly rests upon the effective occupation of the land,' yet he can make no better proposa s thau the forming of roads nnd the acquisition of private lands ! Thh is our leader ! ! The lessons of the past two years are ignored. People may go from the colony in large numbers, who were worth more than £500 ; the deposits in the Savings Banks may increase ; the discount-busineis of the banks may be reduced by one half of the average of the past eigh teen years ; and outstanding private indebtedness of nearly a million and a half may be paid off, without the Premier being led to think tha'; " occupation of the land " may not be so profitable ai be seem* to eftiom it.

When people have confidence they do not hoard then 1 wealth, or pay off their liabilities, as every penny is used to earn more ; so that, if the farmers are di&inclined to increase their holdings, they put their mouev into the Savings Banks, or clear off their encumbrances. Bankers, if they had confidence in land, would not have restricted their discount business, but rather, owing to increased deposits, would have gladly, on safe securities, lent their money. Cjufidenee has been lost by the countrvmnn in the Government. We are told that the Colony has to look to the landowners to secure prosperity, yet these are the men the Premier delighted to tax, to protect Vjal industries having a tendency 'to keep people in the towns. The day must come when the people in the country will be treated fairly, simply because otherwise the Colony "will retrograde. Protection hits the landowner everywhere, making the cost of keeping his family more, the out 1 ay for wages more, for the same reason. Every article needed for the improvement of his property costs more, and what does he get in return ? Par iament is ruled by majorities, and country settlers have the niajority of Representatives, yet from carelessness they allow these things to be. Every district needs to bear these facts in mind at the coming election, and electors must demand from every candidate a pledge to support Freetrade. We, however, want more — we want a voice, as we'l as a vote on this question, and we must get it.