Page 2 Advertisements Column 2

Temuka Leader, Issue 1595, 16 June 1887, Page 2

TO THE ELECTORS OF GLADSTONE. Gbntiembn— CAPTAIN SUTTER having announced that it is not his intention to «aek reeloL- for. I h-ig to offer myself as a candidate for the aeut in the Homo of Representatives which he hai go long and so worthily tilled. As a New Zealander born and bred in your District, and fully intending to spend my life in the colony, I am anxious to devote a considerable portion of my time to the servioe of my fellow colonists. Possessing myself some stake in your distriot, and closely conneoted with it by family ties, I am emboldened to hope that to you I may be indebted for my entrance into publio life, I shall take an early opportunity to lay my views fully before you, but 1 think it well at onoe to state briefly the salient points of my political creed. Undoubtedly the first and most imperative duty of the now Parliament will be to grapple earnestly and fearlessly with the financial difficulties of the colony. It is universally admitted that the burden of taxation must not be increased, and, therefore, the only true way out of our financial trouble is the practice of the most drastic economy in every Department of the State. Though a rigid economist, I shall not for a moment countenance any pitiful and cheeseparing reductions in the pay of persona in the publio employ, who, whether bi olerks, mechanics, or laborers, are honestly doing needful work for the State; but I am convinced that there is ample room for a large reduction in the number of officials without in any degree impairing the efficiency of the various departments of the publio I am prepared to support a large reduction in the exorbitant salaries now paid to the Governor and other high officials, whose pay is at present utterly out of proportion to the value of their services. I will advocate a substantial reduction in the] number of members in the House of Representatives. And I oonsider in the present financial position of the Oolony the members of the Legislative Counoil nominated by the Grown mainly in the interests of property, should cease to ba paid by the State. Thore are other ways, whioh I shall have an opportunity of datailing to you, by which the expense of the Legislature might be sensibly diminished. In spite, however, of the utmost "economy I have no hope that an increase of taxation can be avoided unless an end is put once and for all to the reokless gambling polioy of borrowing money for the construction of, political railways and other publio works intended to catch votes for party purposes., I hold the present Treasurer mainly responsible for the introduction and perpetuation of this policy—the ohief cause of the depression which now taxes so severely the resources of the oolony. Therefore it is needless to state that I am opposed to the Government as at present constituted. To ensure the pure administration of the public funds, the faroe of party Government, apishly copied from the antiquated system now beginning to break down in England, must cease. On the burning question of Protection I wish to speak with no uncertain sound. I will strenuously oppose any inorease in' the Customs, especially that most monstrous proposal to tax agricultural implements, satisfied aa I am, that with strict economy no additional taxation is needed, and that any attempt to bolster up the industries of the towns at the expense of the publio must materially harass and injure the Qkbat Nbw Zealand industries—the Agricultural and Pastoral. I shall strongly favor all reasonable measures to promote bona file settlement in smallholdings, and a simplification of our oumbersome Land Acts. Some of the present vexatious conditions attaohed to the deferred payment add leasehold systems might with advantage be relaxed in favor of genuine tillers of the soil, adequate safeguards being maintained against the acquisition of lands for purely spaoulative purposes. The proposal for the purchase by' the Grown of private lands for settlement seems to have originated in the desire to relieve embarrassed landowners, and would, I am persuaded, only remit in jobbery and the increase of officialism. Largely dependent as the farming classes are upon the circulation of capital at the lowest possible rates of interest, I am anxious that no discouragement should be afforded to the foreign capitalist to lend on New Zealand securities But I regard an absentee landed proprietary as the greatest possible curse to a country. I need hardly add that your interests are identical with my own, and if you do me the honour to eleot me, I shall take every op. 'Canity of poming personally amongst you and maki "* * pU 7 ao 9 uaint ed with the wants of the distru.-.' I have the honor to be, gent'emeri,' Tour obedient servant, ARTHUR E. G. RHODES,