Page 4 Advertisements Column 4

Temuka Leader, Issue 1598, 23 June 1887, Page 4

10 THE ELBOTOBB OF GLADSTONE. Gbhtiemmt— SUTIER having annouiiced J that it is not hit intention' to seek refor the teat in the Home of Beprasentatiyes whioh he has «o long and 10 worthily filled. As a New Zealander bom 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 service of my fellow colonists. Possessing myself some stake in your district, and olosely connected with it by family ties,'l am emboldened to hope that to you 1 may be indebted for my entraaoe into public life. I shall take an early opportunity to lay my views fully before you, but 1 think it well at once to state briefly the salient points of my political creed, : Undoubtedly the first and most imperative duty of the new Parliament will be to grapple earnestly and .fearlessly with the'financial difficulties of the oolony, 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 oountenanoe any pitiful and oheeseparing reductions in the pay of persons in the publio employ, who, 'whether as olerks, meohanics, or laborers, are honestly doing needful work for the State; but lam convinced that there is ample room for a large reduction in the number of officials without in any degree impairing the effioienoy of the various departments of the publio I am prepared to support a large reduotion 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 Bepresentatives. And I consider in the present financial position of the Oolony the members of the Legislative Council nominated by the Grown mainly in the interests of property, should oease to be paid by the State. " " ■■ :'■) There are other ways, whioh I shall have an opportunity of detailing 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 fof all, to the reckless gambling policy 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 re« sponsible for the introduction and perpetuation of this polioy—the chief oause of the depression, whioh now taxes 'so' severely the resources of the colony. Therefore' it is needless, to state that I. am opposed ti 'the Government as at present constituted. . To ensurs the pure administration of the public fundi, the faroe ! of party Government, apishly copied from the f 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 increase in the Customs,, especially that most monstrous proposal to tax agricultural implements, satisfied as 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 Grbat Nbw Zealand industries—the Agricultural and Pastoral. I shall, strongly favor all reasonable measures to promote bona fide settlement in smallholdings, and a simplification of our cumbersome Land Acts. Some of the present vexatious conditions attached to the deferred payment and leasehold systems might with advantage be relaxed in favor of genuine tillers, of the soil, adequate safeguards being maintained against the acquisition of lands purely speculative purposes. The proposal for ( the purchase by the Crown of private lands for settlement "seersi to have originated in''the desire to relieve embarrassed landowners, and would, I am persuaded, only result'in jobbery and tbe increase of officialism, : .

Largely dependent as the farming' classes are upon '.the oironlation 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 Hew Zealand securities. 'But I regard an absentee landed proprietary as Ithe greatest possible curse to a oountry. I need hardly add that your interest* are identioal with my own, and if you do me tbe honour to : eleot me, I ihall take every op. portunifcy of coming personally amongst you and making'myself fully acquainted with tbe wants of the district. Tour obedient servant, ARTHUR E. G. BHODEB,