Page 2 Advertisements Column 2

Temuka Leader, Issue 1607, 14 July 1887, Page 2

TO THB ; ELECTORS OF • GLADSTONE, GENTLEMEN— / ' / ’/ - f GAP lAIN SUTTER having announced that it IsTtrot hi# IntefitlSn to tesk To--ejectlojyT beg.tq pjffor myself, a* acandidtate, for Lb ia the Home of Representative* --which be jhwipiong and go worthily filledv WF* ZaSmitf' Bhrn’ ahd jibed in jour District, and fully intending tb spend mj life in the colony, 1 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 closely opnnebted/with it by family ties, I am emboldened to hope that to you I may be indebted lor my entrance into public life, 1 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 ppliticai cree.d.. Undoubtedly the.flrsfc and mbstimperative grapple earnestly and-fearlessly . with the -financial difficulties of the colony," It is universally admitted that the burden pf 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 peWQM. in the .public employ,-‘who, whether as clerks, mechanics;' or laborers, are honestly 'doing naedful work for the State ; but I am, convinced that there is amploroom. for a large reduction in the number of- officials without in any degree impairing the efficiency of the various departments of the public .service, ‘ ; 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 Wue of their services. / I will advocate a substantial reduction in .thej number, .of memberi-in the House of Representatives. And I consider in the resent financial position of the Colony the' members of the Legislative Council nominated by the' Crown mainlyjin the interests- of property, should cease to be. paid by the /State. : There are other ways, which t 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 for all to the 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 the introduction and perpetuation of this policy—the chief cause of the depression which now taxes so severely the resources’of/the/6olohy< Therefore it- is needless to state that I am opposed to the Government as at present constituted. To bnsure the pure administration of the public funds, the! fared of party Government, apishly copied from the antiquated system now beginning to break down in England, must cease. ■ /.' , On the burning question of Protection 1 wish to speak with no uncertain sound., .1 will strenuously oppose any increase, in, the Customs, especially that most monstrous proposal to tax agricultural implements, satisfied as Lady’ 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 Great New Zealand Ikdiwtries— the Agricultural and Pastoral. \\ ■ /!/ / f . I shall strongly favor, all reasonable measures to promote bona fide settlement in small holdings, 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 0f the soil, being maintained agamst, the acquisition of lands for purely speculative purposes. I iTha?pJ?qpirtal s Mr ppshaae 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 s ip jobbery and the increase of cffioialism, Largely dependent, as . the farming classes are upon the circulation of capital at the lowest possible rates of interest, I am anxious that bo 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 elect me, I shall take every opportunity of coming personally amongst you and making myself fully acquainted with the wants of the district. I have the honor to be, gent’emen, Tour obedient servant, ! ’ I ARTHUR E. G. RHODES,