Page 2 Advertisements Column 2

Temuka Leader, Issue 1606, 12 July 1887, Page 2

TO THE ELECTORS OF GLADS lONB. Gbntiembh— CAPTAIN SUTTER having announced tbafc it is not bit intention to seek reelection, [ j;g to offer myself as a o&ndidate for the neat in the House of Representatives which he hat bo long and so worthily filled. As a Hew Zealander born and bred in your District, and folly intending to spend my life in the colony, I am anxious to devote a oomiderable portion of my time to the service of my fellow colonists. Possessing myself some stake in your district-, and closely connected 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 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 iuoreased, and, therefore, the only true way out of our financial trouble is the praotice of the most drastic economy in every Department of the State. Though a ligid economist, I shall not for a moment ooumonanoe 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 I am 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 lam prepared to support a large reduotion [ in the exorbitant salaries now paid to the Governor end other high offioials, whose pay is at present utterly out of proportion to the value of their services, I I will advocate a snbstantial reduction in number of members in the House of Representatives. And I consider in the resent financial position of the Oolony the members of the Legislative Oounoil nominated by the Crown 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 ah end is put once and for all to the reobless gambling polioy of borrowing money for the construction of politioal 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 polioy—the chief cause of the depression whioh now taxes so severely th<3 resources of the oolony. Therefore it is needless to state that I am opposed to the Government as at present constituted. To enbure the pure administration of the public funds, the farce of party Government, apiihly copied from the antiquated system now beginning to break down in England, must cease. On the burning question of Protection I whm to speak with no unoertain sound. I will strenuously oppose any increase in the Custom*, 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 qbbat Nbw Zbaiand ihditstbies—the Agricultural and Pastoral. I shall strongly favor all reasonable meaiures to promote bona fide settlement in small holdings, and a simplification of our oumbersome 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 for purely speculative 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 result 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 wo 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, ecd if you do me the honour to elect me, I shall take e>/sry op. porhinity of ooming personally amongst you and making myself fully acquainted with the wants of the district. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, Tour obedient servant, ARTHUR E. €h RHODES.