The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1887. THE PRESENT CONTEST.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1633, 13 September 1887, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1887. THE PRESENT CONTEST.

Under lh« significant heading of Wealth v. Wisdom the Dunedin Heraid published one day last week an article dealing with the present election. It points out as a very significant fact that ail (be men of wealth are on the side of Major Atkinson, while all the poor candidates are on the side of Sir Robert Stout. It gives the names of several of the wealthy men who are now seeking election to Parliament, and says their “ greatest claim to the consideration of any constituency is that they are able to spend money,” It specially refers to Mr Allen, who is opposing Sir Robert Stout, and points out that his wealth is not due to any effort of his own, and that bis claim to election is that “ lie is the son of his father.” Mr Allen has some ability and political knowledge certainly. He is not a “ noodle,” but had he been even a fool so long as he had wealth it would be all the same-

“ Worth nißkes the man. and want of it the Mlow, The rest is only leather or prunella” Is a sentiment which sounds beautiful, and is always applauded until an election comes on ; then it is “ Wealth makes the man.” The wealthy man, however incapable he may be, will hare influence in Parliament according to some paople’a ideas. The poor man may have the wisdom of Solomon and the eloquence of Demosthenes, and yet hs is regarded as inferior to t“he rich man. The Evening Herald has gauged the relative positions of rich and poor very accurately, It continues to say—“At the present elections, however, we observe an organised attempt throughout the

length and breadth of the colony to get rich men into Assembly because they are rich, or the representatives of riches, and for no other reason or qualification whatsoever. When we observe the same tendency all along the line, the question naturally occurs—Why is it that the representatives of money everywhere are so eagerly and carefully pushed forward ? The answer is not far to seek—it is simply this: that Sir Robert Stout has shown himself so careful of the interests of labor, and so regardless of the greed of capital, ns to have fairly terrified the moneyed classes, and stirred them into n perfect crusade against his Government. He has not, indeed, at any time made a secret of his determination to legislate in the interests of the workingclasses, and not in the interests of capital. A graduated property tax is the terror and abomination of men like Messrs Reid and Allen, who are standing as candidates for the Legislature chiefly, if not only, in the hope of defending their own pockets from the taxgatherer. Messrs Cargill, Buckland, and Rcobie Mackenzie go into the House chiefly to represent large moneyed companies; Messis Fergus, Fulton, and Richardson arc ail men who have a direct personal influence in ward ingnfflhe taxation of capital, or, in other words, thrusting it upon labor. From one end of the Provincial District of Otago to the other it will be found that the Opposition candidates are mere nominees of a bank or a loan company, or are themselves wealthy men. It is only necessary to note this fact and leave the electors free to act upon their own conclusions, During the next few years, the incidence of taxation is likely to loom up very largely in the political world here. There can ü be no reason for objecting to a fair and honest representation of classes. For a long period, up to the last few years, the owners of accumulated wealth have had it all their own way in the colony, and have successfully eluded everv attempt to place the public burden upon their own backs during that period. What has been finely called by economists the “ equality of sacrifice ” has had no place at all in their political catechism. At the very first sight of practical measures of fiscal reform which would place capital accumulated in individual hands under heavy contribution, the owners of money have taken fright. By all sorts of direct and indirect means the pubic is warned not to frighten away capital, not to drive it away from thess ehoree, not to deter what are humorously called the best class of, settlers from coming here by land legislation which will prevent land monopoly, and by a fiscal policy which tend* to spare the working man at tho expense of the rich. It is impossible to exaggerate the influence the considerations we have noted above are likely to have at the ensuing elections. The last Parliament, with ail its faults, was a Liberal Parliament; shall we be able to say the same of the next ? When the Classes are organising themselves all along the line, and stirred by what zeems to them a serious danger, using their utmost efforts to fend off the tax-gathers, it behoves the Masses to find out their strength and use it."

This puts the matter very clearly. The present election is a fight between the rich and the poor. Sir Hebert Stout has defined the policies of ihe Liberal and the Conservative, and henceforth no one can mistake them. The policy of Sir Hubert Stout is: “ Keep the money in the colony so as to give employment to the people and developn our industrial resources ; buy up large estates so as to extend settlement ; let the rich bear a fair share of the taxation, which is neeessary to pay hrerest on the borrbwed capital which has gone to enhance the value of their property.” The policy of the Atkinson party is “ Leave things as they are.” “ Learn to labor, and to wait.”

The people have been waiting long enongh ; the dawn of a new era is breaking now, and if the people are true to themselves they will select candidates that will legislate for the interests of the people instead of those whose interest it is to play into the hands of the moneyrings.