The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1886. SLAVES TO THE MONEY-LENDERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1487, 1 April 1886, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1886. SLAVES TO THE MONEY-LENDERS.

The Hoh. W. Rolleston at hie meatin Temuka last Tuesday evening, laid that “ the landowner* of this colony were slaves to the money-lender*, who were landlord* of the worst kind.” wai asked it he would be in favor of » million loan, so ae to i*nd it to those land owners. He replied that a million would be only a drop in a bucket, and he believed no scheme had yet been formulated that would meet the ease. He was next asked would he be in favor of a National Bank such as was suggested by Mr Twomey. lie replied that ho was not well enough acquainted with Mr Twomsy’s scheme to give sn opinion on it, Mr Twomey (hen explained his scheme amidst soma interruption, and Mr Rolleston said he was opposed to it. Mr David Leach next asked him to give his reasons for opposing a National Bank, lie failed to give any tangtbln reasons, only that (here were great difficulties in the way, that it was not within the functions of (iovernment to deal with such subjects, end that it was very dangerous for the State to meddle in such matters. These general statements were received with cheers, and apparently the people were thoroughly satisfied. Mr i'womey then spoke to the following effect :—“ Mr Rolleston, you have told ns that our farmer# are slaves to the money-lenders, would you do nothing to free the slaves? A great deal of blood has been spilled in freeing black slaves, would you do nothing towards freeing white s’aves?” There w»« do answer given to this question. Mr Twomey next asked Mr llolleston to explain where we could get the £4,000,000 a year we had to send out of the country. Mr Rolleston answered that we would get it from our exports. Mr Twomey said that our imports swallowed up all our exports, consequently we could not get it from that source. He asked “ was there any other avenue through which we could get it?” Mr llolleston said “direct taxation.” Mr Twomey pointed out that there was only £2,000,000 in all the banks in the colony. If, therefore, taxpayers who had to pay direct taxation, drew cheques for taxes on the banks, how would there be enough money in the banks to pay the £4,000,000 ? Mr llolleston explained that he could not b« expected to answer all these cross-questions, These questions were aiked amidst a great deal of interruption, and at this point the audience would hear no more, and Mr Twomey bad to come off the stage amidst hooting and yelling. Now what bad Mr Twomey done to merit this treatment ? What was he doing but trying to *licit from Mr Rolleston, whose long experience ought to have made him an authority on these matters, an answer to a question involving the solvency of the colony. The questions really meant 11 1* there any means open to us except to go on borrowing, or become bankrupt.” He explained to the people that he was actuated by no hostility to Mr Holies ton, and reminded them that he had been friendly towards him since ha became representative for the district, but even this did not do. Subsequently Mr Twomey tried to add to the vote of thanks and confidence a resolution affirming the principle of a National Bank, but he was hooted down again. Mr Rolleston told them they w*re “ slaves to the money-lender, and would take no means of fracing them,” and for this he was cheered ; Mr Twomey attempted to show & means of freeing them, and he was laughed at and howled down*

Now, does not this give a handle to the opponents of a National Bank ? They can point to Temuka and say : “ Look at Tetnuka. There the idea first originated ; there it has been constantly kept before the people, and see what is the result ! Why, the people of Tsmuka laugh at it ; end hoot the man that originated it off the stage. It is all nonsense. The people don’t want it.” The people of Terauka did a very clever thing. Their representative in Parliament told them “that the farmers were slaves to the moneylenders,” and they did everything they could to rivet their chains tighter than before. If Mr Rolleston had been given to understand that the electors of this districts were in favor of a National Bank that would give freedom to these slaves he would no doubt pay the subject more attention, but be was not ; he was led to believe that the people looked upon the matter as a good joke, and he will no doubt bother his head no more about it. The farmers of this district will be glad, no doubt, to learn that they are slaves, and that there is nothing to be done to set them free. In England, in India, in Switzerland, in Germany, State assistance has been given to farmers, but Mr Koileston will not do anything for the farmer slaves of New Zealand. He was not able to tell the meeting, also, how the £4,000,000 « year could be got. We do not desire to criticise Mr Rolleston. If the people are satisfied with the answer he gave to a question involving the solvency of the colony, we have no reason to complain. But we can tell them, and Mr Rolleston, that the question must bs answered, and that this paper will not give up its views on these subjects because the people howl them down. It is very vexatious, of course, to have such questions asked, and it would be very handy if the person who is im-

pudent enough to ask them could bo shut up, But this will not bo done easily. Let the people of Terauba hoot, groan, and hiss, the fight for setting the slaves free must go on, and it will be carried on by us more cheerfully, more persistently, and more energetically than ever.