The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1880.

Temuka Leader, Issue 251, 24 April 1880, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1880.

In the present state of impecunioiity in which the New Zealand Government is pluced, and the extreme desire evinced by some of the members of it to be as accommodating as possible to New Zealan capitalist) it would not surprise «s to find (on the assembling of Parliament next month) a Bill prepared, authorising the Government, or the Land Board, to «ell land in large blocks in order to raise money. This waa the course adopted in Otago on one or two occasions, when the Treasurer was hard up. Previous Governments mado it a part of their policy to buy all the land they could get from the Nutives in the North Island, at a ro*s>nj al'lo prico ; a*.d although this whs no doubt a wise procedure, if looked at [ fro n a North Island point of view, it enn- ' not be denied thai it. was purchasing a landed estate f«r the North Isbmd, at the expense of the South.

Whon Sir Georgo Grey's Government a hue

their huul dealings with the Natives. ll'd not Sir Gowgc put a stop to Native land speculators by tho North I-hmd Ring, there would have be«n m:mv repetitions of fch" Piakn Swam;) Swiu -lc,])ut with this difference : tliat instead of a .snbs<-rvi"nt Atkinson Government; tho swindh-d parties would have heeti the NativoH. Wo do not deny that S.r George in following in tha footsteps of the Atkinson Government in buying land was rather in Ids attentions to the North Island ; but there was no risk of him throwing the land away to land-sharks. The Hall Government is not to be trusted in that respect. The hinto thrown out by tho Government organ in South Canterbury are very significant. Tho servile tone of our contemporary is so well known, and his blind following of the Hull p-rty w> notoriously transparent, that it could not but meet with tho favor of a class of ni"ii so snspectible of flattery as the head of tho present Government is. As a consequence we will admit that the wrvilty of our contemporary gives him an opportunity of sounding the mind qf the pr.sent Premier which no other journalist possessWhen, therefore, we find the Government organ hint at soiling land in blocks to raise the wind, we may take it for granted that the Hall Government have made up their'mind to give the North Island Land Sharks, alias North Island Land Company, a bargain We have stated that it would not surprise uh if wo heard, before Parliament meets, that the aforesaid company has made an offer, and that the Hon John Hall had considered it "a fair offer indeed,'' and that he considered the exigencies of the ease such, that ho deemed it advisable to.accept it. After the little dodgo about tho branch railways, we are prepared to hear anything from the hon gentleman, if he can only secure tho support and confidence of the monied classes, it is not beyond the range of possibility for him to sell all the lately-acquired blocks of land for a sum quite out of proportion to their intrinsic value. It is therefore incumbent upon every settler in both islands to watch carefully the tricky manoeuvres of our present Government. The tendency of parties in power to flatter those possessed of wealth, is greater in the colonies than in tho Old Countries, and our friend, the Premier.often exhibits a weakness that way, but the old adage, "He is a fool who falters," may be proved a ism, and possibly even in this case. The great political revolution thnt has taken place in the British Isles, show us that there is only a certain amount of strain that tho working classes will stand, and the state of tho poll, in most cases, would show that the working classes havo got their eyes opened to the great powor that they possess. The humiliating defeat that the Conservatives suffered at their hands ought to be a warning to the powers that be in New Zealand. Wo are no advocates for the working class having the upper hand. Indeed, wo think it would be a-great calamity to see such rule this country ; but, on the other hand, tho past histor}' of Now Zealand show that the upper class has shamefully abused their power, therefore, we desire to goo a check put upon their dishonest dealings. If our present Government are hatching a scheme for throwing the lands cf the people away in order to fill.a gap, which such timber heads are incapable of devising ;< other means of doing, then, we say, let them be turned out when Parliament meets, that men who have some brains and some breadth of mind may take up their place, who have ability enough to enable them to tide over the present difficulties without throwing away the public estate. The doings of the Hall party are most reprehensible. The way they are wasting money in matdng roads to Native lands, tho extravagance connected with tho absurd system of Royal Commissions, and the expense incurrod by Ministers whilst " doing " the country, is, to say tho least of it, a disgrace, if i?ot a crime. The manner in which the present Ministers cried down their predecessors for doing w.at tuey ti.nmselvea are now repeating in a tenfold more offensive and wasteful manner, calls for investigation. Tho New Zealand colonist is a most forgiving animal, but there is a limit to his endurance. We do not know how tmuJi longer they will stand having their pockets jacked, to allow a lot of men to travel the country and enjoy themsolved at their expense ; but we think a reaction may soon set in, an J the delinquents brought to justice wooner than they expect. To all Liborals wo say, Be on tho watch, and register your vote, to be in readiness for any emergency that may arise.