Page 2 Advertisements Column 2

Temuka Leader, Issue 1615, 2 August 1887, Page 2

TO THE BLBOTOEB OF GLADSTONE, CAPTAIN SUTIER having announced that it is not fair intention to seek reelection, I beg to offer myself ai a candidate for the seat in the Homo of Beproaent&tirei which he hsi go long and bo worthily filled. Ai a New Zealander bom and bred in your District, and fally intending to ipend my life in the oolony, I am anziouß to devote a considerable portion of my time to the service of my fellow colonists. Possessing myself some stake in your district, and elosely connected with it by family ties, I am emboldoned to hope that to you I may be indebted for my entraaoe into publio 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 arneatly 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 praotioe 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 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 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 servioes, I will advocate a substantial reduction in the number of members in the House of Bepresentatives. And I consider in the resent financial position of tho Oolony the members of the Legislative Council nominated by the Grown mainly in the interests of property, should cease 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 spito, however, of the utmost economy I have no hope that an incroase 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 re* sponsible for the introduction and perpetuation of this polioy—the ohief cause of the depression whioh now taxes so severely the reaouroes 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 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 great 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 attaohed 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. ' i 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 no discouragement should be afforded to the foreign capitalist to lend on Now Zealand securities. But I regard an absentoe landed proprietary ai 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, ARTHUR B. Gh BHODE3.