THE LATE HON. J. BATH GATE.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 1, Issue 34, 1 October 1886, Page 4

THE LATE HON. J. BATH GATE.

(From Wood villa Examiner Sept. 28). Many will regret to hear of the death of the Hon. John Bathgate, of Dunedin. The deceased took an active interest in public affairs ever since his arrival in the colony. In his earlier colonial life he was a banker, and was next editor and manager of the Otago Daily Times. He was ajso provincial solicitor in the Provincial Executive and afterwards was a member of the Vogel Ministry. He leaves twelve children. One of his great hobbies was the establishment of a State Bank of Issue. Having been a banker himself he understood the question, and he hail advooated the establishment of such an institution in an able manner. He was a man most upright and es'eemed bv all who knew him. and in losing him New Zealand has lost one of her best men. The following letter firm Mr Bathgate was received a few days ago by Mr Haggen, and our readers will be able to judge from ti how earnest he woe in the cause he advocated :

“ I was much pleased by the perusal of yonr recent leading article on the subject of s State Bank of Issue. It ib a metier of for more general importance as affecting the general welfare of the public than many people imagine. Until the internal or domestic circulation of the country is free from the control of foreign institutions there is littlo prospect of abiding prosperity. It is gratifying to find an able advocate in your paper because the press of the colony is a dumb dog in the matter, and I hail each supporter ns a valuable ally. The press of New Zealand is too much under the thumb of the banks to lie independent. With few exceptions the newspapers are muzzled. History always repeats itself. Sir A. Alison in his autobiography, (vol. ii. p. 304) writes ; “ The great difficulty now exporionccil (1857-61) in all measures connected with this subject (the currency) is that realised wealth gets command of the press. This is a serious coil, the magnitude of which can only be appreciated, by those who like myself, have for a long course of years been the daily spectators of the evils attendant on the system introduced for the benefit of capitalists on tile one hand, and the strenuous nnd generally successful efforts made by its holders to crush any investigation into it on the other.” The banks in the colony hare great power and the Government in afraid of them. However, men who are independent of the banks are beginning to Rce the great danger inherent in the present anomalous system, hence I carried rny resolutions in the Council as you would see in Hansard. But there must be continuous education and ngitation nmong the electors before the nbuse can be remedied. The good work is going on nevertheless. I send you a pamphlet I received from Gisborne, and one published in Dunedin some time ago. Yours fuitlifully, John Bathgate.