The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1881.

Temuka Leader, Issue 380, 28 April 1881, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1881.

Jt iss again rumored that Government next will propose selling our railway?, .This is the only step now needed to complete the subjugation of the Colony. The 'creation of another, a third, power in our [midst, and all is lost to the middle r.nd < ►working classes, who will only have a kname to live, whilst they are dead. The 'flank of New Zealand and the Loan aDd Companies at present hold nirst and second places. Let another [monopoly be create! by handing our. over to a third company of .capitalists, and we would ask, what remains for.the masses to fight for 1 Already the Loan and Mevcantil • Company .may be termed the proprietors of New Zealand. The. Bank of New Zealand, their fosterfather, ready to go hand in hand with thorn in sharing the spoil, and in bringing about that, state of serfdom which Sir George Grey so often earnestly warned the people against. In our midst there is a number of large landowners tied hand and fcot to the Loan and Mercantile Company, locking up the land for the simple purpose of producing a large

interest to swell the dividends pf the Company, The flirting way tljat the Bank, on the. other hand, de dt frith its customers a few years ago, shoe's how little it cares for anyone biifc self. The extrayagantly liberal way in which it lavished its hoards upon some, of its customers whqse, brains were not overabundant and whose judgment and pene : tration was of a very mediocre turn, set the poor creatures right off their chumps. Is it £o b,e wondered at, then, when pne after another they lost their balance and fell flat, prostrate, and heirless. Many will curse, the day when such temptation was placed in their way to induce them to thus destroy themselves. Had the Bank been like any other commercial company, obliged to be civil and courteous to its customers, it would have had to do as they do, bear with them till a turn comes. Bat uow, rolling in wealth, it can afford to laugh at their calamities, and turn a deaf ear to their entreaties. With the Mercantile Company as its legal adviser, so to speak, it can make or mar three-fourths of the people in New Zealand. It is not to be denied for a moment that the introduction of capital into the Colony helped to push it ahead, and with sufficient cheeks it would be a good thing. Like individuals, however, power in the hands of such importers is a very dangerous thing. i'his has been clearly demonstrated by the way many have been pulled down and tattered and torn because they would not, or could; not, continue to render them the homage exacted. So it is with power always, in whatever hands it is placed. Let us, therefoie, be wained in time, not to surrender our national liberty by selling our birthright —our valuable and, if properly managed, lucrative railway property. It would be a most enjoyable thjng for Major Atkinson and his coadjutors to get their arms up to the elbow in the heaps of money that could be got for this valuable property. It would be a mo9t convenient tiling for them to revel for another twelve mouths in the luxurious sweets of office, but would it be well for them to so debauch themselves at the public expense. Doubtless the Colonial Treasurer knew the Continental doctrine that to, feed the people well, and give them plenty of amusement is the best safeguard the State can have. It is to be hoped, that the Colonists of New Zealand will ■have their eyes too wide, open to be affected by such glamour. The present is, nevertheless, a very dangerous time. People in gineral are indifferent politics; some are disgusted with the place, and hasten to leave the Colony. Others are tied hand and foot as we have said, and dare not oppn their mouth, while another class are drawing atom the wells of their salvation and care not for others, for the country, or for all the world beyond, As the time draws nigh that our rulers will have to put on a good face before their compeers, let us see to it that they do not steal a march upon us by slipping through a measure that will be irrevocable once it is ratified and acted upon. It is doubtless; a puzzle to the Colonial Treasurer how to make a good show. Few will have any excuse for him. Reduction in expenditure and reduction of high salaries has been as yet but very partially acted upon. There is room to economise sufficient for all our needs.