Page 4 Advertisements Column 2

Temuka Leader, Issue 1601, 30 June 1887, Page 4

TO THE ELBOXOBB OF GLADSTONE. Gentlemen— CAPTAIN SDTIBB having announced that it is not his intention to seek reelection, I L s -i iijr myself a* a candidate for tha seat in the House of BsptcteaUtiffs which he has so long so worthily filled. As a New. Zealander born and bred, in your District, and fully intending to spend my life in the colony, I am anxious to divot a a considerable portion of my time to the service of my fellow colonists. Possessing myself some stake in your c.h. net, and closely connected with it by family ties, I am emboldened to hope that to you I iruy be indebted for my entrance into public lie, I shall take an early opportunity to lay my views fully before you, but 1 chir k it veil 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 colony, It is universally admitted that the burden of taxation must not be increased, and, therefore, the only true way out of oar 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 ooununaooo any pitiful and cheeseparing reductions in the pay of persons in the public employ, who, whether si clerks, mechanics, or laborers, are honestly doing needful work for the Sta.ej 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 public service. 1 am prepared to support a large reduction in the exorbitant salaries now paid to tbe Governor and other high officials, whose pay is at present utterly out of proportion to tbe value of their services, I will advocate a substantial reduction in the| number of members in the House of B’presentstivas. And I consider in the present financial position < f the Colony the members of the Legislative Oc unoil nominated by the Crown mainly in tbe interests of property, should cease to be paid by the State. , There ate other ways, which 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 or.ee and for all to tbe reckless gambling policy of borrowing money for the construction of political railways and other public works intended to catch votes for party purposes. I hold the present Treasurer mainly re. sponsible for tbe introduction and perpetuation of this policy—the chi f cause of the depression which now taxes so severely the resources of the colony. 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 farce of party Government, apishly copied from the antiquated system now beginning to break down iu England, must cease. On the burning question of P oteotion I wish to speak with no uncertain oound. 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 public must materially harass and injure the sekat New Zealand iNDDfITRiEfI-rtho Agricultural and. Pastoral. I b’.bll strongly favor all reasonable measures to promote bona file settlement in small holdings, and a simplification of our cumbersome Land Acts, Bome of the present vexations 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 ac quisition of lands for purely speculative purposes. The proposal for the purchase .by the Grown of private lauds for settlement seems to have originated in the desire to relieve embarrassed landowners, and would, I am persuaded, only remit in j bbery and the increase of officialism. Lsrpe’y dependent aa the farming classes are upon the circulation of capital at the lowest possible rates of merest, I am anxious that no discouragement should bo afforded t the foreign capitalist to lend on New Z'-nlacd securities. But I regard an absentee landec proprietary as the greatest pofeioleciineto.a ooun'ry. I nofid hnrdlv add that your intiroits p.tv identical with my own, acd if you do mo t*> honon* to elect, me, I *b ,; T take > very rp. portu' ifcy of coming .■<unor-g»t yn and making my'elf fully wquainted wrh the wants of the district. I have the hoiv r to b?, gont emen, Your obedient smvant, AETBUdE G. BHODEB