The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1888. THE ASHLEY ELECTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1769, 28 July 1888, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1888. THE ASHLEY ELECTION.

The Ashley election has resulted in the return of Mr J. M. Yerrall, a farmer living at Ohoka, North Canterbury. Mr Yerrall commenced life some years ajjo in England with a capital of £IO,OOO. He lost some of it in farming, and coming out to the colonies with about half that amount, invested some of it in a run in Queensland, and the balance in the purchase of a farm at Ohoka. He got on well enough until a few years ago when he sank deeply into the meshes of lawyers and money-lenders. He could not realise on his investment in Queensland, he had not the means to satisfy the immediate and pressing demands of the lawyers and the mortgagees, aud they came heavily on him with the result that he lost considerably. Just when his fortunes looked darkest, however, the mail brought him a good round sum from Queensland, and Mr Yerrall once, more flung defiance in the tace of his tormentors. In fact, he always defied 'hem, and when pressed hardest his denunciation of them became most vehement. To expose the callousheartedness of the mortgagees he wrote several letters to the papers, and feeling dissatisfied with this mode of conveying his abhorrence of them to the public, he issued a periodical of his own, entitled “The Stockwhip.” This periodical was issued by him in the hope that he could turn public opinion in favor of a National Bank. In its first issue he says: “The attention of the writer has been attracted to the subject of paper money by some articles in the Temuka. Leader by the editor, Mr J. M. Twomey, who has written advocating the establishment of a National Bank.” Mr Yerrall, therefore, is admittedly a pupil of ours, and consequently it is only natural that wc should feel a pride aud a pleasure in seeing him elected to Parliament. He is evidently elected entirely on the strength of the National Bank, for he made that the leading feature of the policy which he enunciated. He is a thorough Protectionist, but thinks a National Bank preferable. He is a gent L-man of first-class education, and a splendid writer, and if he takes care of himself he will soon take a very good position in Parliament. He is the first member elected on the National Bank tick it, and though we have ceased to advocate that subject,' we sincerely hope that he will not be the last. In this district the idea of a National Bank originated; in this district the effect which it would have has been explained most thoroughly, but when it was submitted to the electors they showed they did not believe in it. They said “ It is very good but it can’t be got,” and they placed it beyond the possibility of getting by voting against it. In consequence of this —in consequence of the fact that the people could not be got to vote for it—we decided to let it drop, and since then we have not referred to it. But now, finding that another constituency has returned a man on the strength ol it, we cannot help feeling that there is yet a possibility of it occupying a prominent position in politics. Mr Yerrall will doubtless do his best to bring it into notice, and we sincerely trust be will be successful.

VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS. On last Wednesday an impromptu debate was got in Parliament on the Village Settlement question. Mr Peacock asked the Minister of Lands whether it was the intention of the Government to continue the extension of the Village Settlement system, and on Mr Kiehardaou replying that it was not, Sir George Grey moved the adjournment of the House, so that the subject could be debated. He made a pretty violent attack ou the Ministry for having neglected the settlement of the people on the land, and he was followed by several others, who spoke in favor of Village Settlements. Whatever others may do Sir George Grey ought to feel ashamed of the position he occupied in relation to the subject. He knew what Mr Ballance had been doing in reference to land settlement; he knew that never before in the history of the colony had so much been done in such a short time; he knew that Mr Ballanee’s work would yield an infinite amount of good to the poor, whose champion he professed to be—yet, in the face of this knowledge he travelled from Auckland to the Bluff denouncing the late Government, during the late elections, and amongst the many things he denounced was Mr Ballance’s Village Settlements. Twelve months have passed since then, aud now he has denounced the present Government for not doing what he denounced the late Government for doing From this it can be seen that Sir George Grey is a very mischievous element in politics, and people would do well to take very little notice of anything he says. However, the debate on la it Wednesday must have been gratifying to Mr Ballance. Just about 12 months ago he had to sit as Minister in the House, and listen to the most violent attacks made upon him for having spent money in settling these people on the 1 nd. If be had stolen the money and conve ted it to his own private use, he could uot have

been attacked with greater violence ; yet now we find friend and foe alike admitting the success of bis scheme and urging on the Government the necessity of extending it, “ Time brings its revenge.” Last year Mr Ballance was the best abused man in New Zealand; now the wisdom aud the usefulness of his actions artadmitted by the most violent of his opponents. Many a poor working man was cajoled into voting against the late Government, and now what h«ve they got for it? The most fear fully oppressive taxation that poor people ever had to bear, and not the slightest chance of settling on the land. Serve them right.