correspondence.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 33, 3 December 1901, Page 3

correspondence.

TO THE EDITOR

Sir : J udging from the resolutions passed, and the business done, at the meeting on Saturday evening it strikes one that the Union is not likely to secure any great betterment of the farming interest. It was strongly emphasised I believe, hy the first promoters of the movement that it should be strictly non-political. Now- it seems to me that the only way for the Union to do much good is to form a strong political organisation and run the Government on quite new lines. And instead of the chief principles of their policy being " the extension of land settlement" and the forcing open of fresh markets in other parts of the world, we should " go slow" iii the matter of further land settlement, and go in for a large immigration policy, so as to have a market at our own doors. Of course, we should " immigrate '*'* industries and capital as well as workers. This could be accomplished by gradually imposing prohibitive import duties on all articles which could be produced reasonably in the colony, and the entering into a contract with the Imperial Government to facilitate the emigration of some of her surplus population. It is our " splendid commerce " that is sapping i the life blood out of us. The fear of making my letter too long prevents me from quoting figures to prove it. I am etc, Member.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir ; Mr G. 11. Blatter writes a long letter in reply to my last question as to whether gome money had been placed on the Estimates fos the proposed bridge over the I'iVtrr at Alexander’s Bluff. He thinks I. was ungenerous because I Wrote about the affair- and did not post him a copy cf the papercontaining the letter. Really, Mr Slatter you are unreasonable. I thought you a progressive settler, always willing to help along a venture having for its object the welfare of .the district, for I consider your paper, Sir, deserves our hear-iy support, because the Star is truly giving us more news, not only about the district, hut also what is going on in the outside world that we have been getting from the others. Knowing that Mr Slatter does not hang about the public houses to get a look at the paper without paying for it (as some others do to my own personal seeing) I thought that be knew what was being published and talked about here, and in Motueka as well. He says he -has been wiiting for 25 years about the bridge and has only got promises up to now. He might just as well have put in more snooze and save the brain power that lie has by all accounts, wasted. I haven’t been to sleep all that time and he knows it. He is very cunning to have spotted me so soon but I suppose iheie is no law against a man signing “himself Settler if. he likes. I shall please myself about-that and not ask his advice, anyhow. But I would like to know one thing. Is the money ready for the bridge ? The Estimates are published I hear and his man, Mr McK.euz.ie could easily set our minds easy by letting us know the worst. I don’t want to take his billet. He lias done so well for us this 25 years that it would’nt be fair to snatch the job away and do him out the honor and glory that he will reap in time to come. I for one hope we do get the bridge because it will be a great convenience but I shant believe but is the same old political job to get oar support again. 1 am, etc.,

Settler.