THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1724, 14 April 1888, Page 2

THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—Through the medium of your columns I would like to make a few remarks as to the present state of the country. Can any one give a proper reason for the depression and so many leaving for Australia ? First, some will say its the low price of grain and produce generally. Very good; that has a lot to do with it. Others will say it is taxation. That is nearer the mark. Taking the civilized world, there is not a country where the people are so heavily taxed as New Zealand. Every Government is going to do a lot! We have one in power at present elected through that clap-trap cry " What have they done ? Discharged a few civil servants, and pensioned them off with a pension equal to a working man's daily wage, take it all the year round. No doubt some of the old hands wanted drafting out; but have they not been getting excellent wages? Why should they be pensioned? Will we taxpayers get a pension by and by ? Yes, they will send us to the Old Man's Home if we have not put by for a rainy day. Would it not have been better to have devoted their time to find some means to keep the people in the colony after spending so many thousands of pounds on immigration ? Who is to pay the taxes if the yery cream of the country is to leave it as at present ? Something like 2400 left for Australia last month, about 90 per cent, able-bodied men. Jhe way we are taxed at present is unbearable. What will it be shortly ? We shall be able to pay no tax at all, for we shall have nothing to pay it with. In this district at the present time there are scores of men out of employment. What are they to do, with winter before them and no prospects of any work ? Farmers can't employ labor with such low prices and a poor yield, arid if they join the ranks of the unemployed they are looked down upon. They made a very poor harvest cheque. - Still we have an M.H.R. for this constituency, a staunch supporter of the retrenchment Government. Where is he ? "What has he been doing since Parliament prorogued. The last I heard of him he was inspecting the proposed line of rabbit fence up the Mackenzie Couutry. I give him credit for looking after his own party's interests—the squatter—but it would be more to his credit if he used \m brains to promote some local industry that would give employment and keep people in the country. In a few weeks Parliament meets. Will he give us an address, or pass us by, as if he had no right to ? It would be a little satisfaction for us to know what he is going to do. We all know what he has done. Apologising for trespassing so far, and for not being able to explain myself better.—l am, etc., WoßKitfG Maw. Temuka, April 12th, 1888.