POVERTY AND WEALTH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 178, 28 July 1880, Page 2

POVERTY AND WEALTH.

To THE EDITOB OF THE "EVENING MAIL." Sir—ln your issue of yesterday in the Christchurch news I read of some 108 poor people who had daily received relief from a soup kitchen established in that city, and in last week's papers I read of hundreds applying for alms to some relieving officer in Wellington. Good heavensl are we reduced to a state like Ireland after all our boastjj?, Then,

on the other hand, I read of Mr Peacock having' made a proposition in the Legislative Council to the effect that hon members refuse to accept their honorarium, when he was set upon and hunted down as a pack of hounds would hunt a stag, and pointed at as au object of scorn and contempt, one Bell tinkling awfully in the affair. Now, it appears there were thirty hon members present at the time, and no doubt but that in one way and the other they represented property over £2,000,000; for one of their number baa recently died, and I was Informed that his income amounted to £210 daily; and there is no doubt but there arc many gentlemen iv that august Assembly equally wealthy ; yet they covet this £300 of the people's money for some imagiuary service they render the country. Where is their patriotism ? Where is their generosity ? Their great estates would be of little ase were it not for these poor people to cultivate them, whom they would now send to a soup kitchen or pine out a miserable existence ou alms. Notwithstanding this great wealth, they are not satisfied, hut like David of old whom the prophet Nathan rebuked, they must prey on the poor iiian's only ewe lamb in ttie shape of a beer tax, a tax Which their coadjutors assert is ueoessary to pay the Honoralbe gentlemen £300 each for two or three months recreation. Do yoti think, Mr Editor, has the conjunction of the planets at the present time, or the visit of the comet in February last, any effect in producing this unholy state of affairs. — I am, &c, Simple Simon. Nelson, July 27, I^Bo. .