The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1889. POLITICAL EXCITEMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1865, 14 March 1889, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1889. POLITICAL EXCITEMENT.

The Christchurch Press rejoices in the fact that there is a complete absence of political excitement at present, and hopes that this may be regarded as an evidence that the approaching session will be a quiet one. It goes on then to dilate upon what a blessing this would be, and to animadvert on the misehievousness of the previous administration, and the harm they did. "The injury arose as much from what they attempted to do as from what they succeeded in accomplishing," says the Press, and then enlarges on " dangerous schemes" " broken pledges " " holding out alluring baits " " driving capital away," " and the serious difficulties to put the financial affairs of the colony in order after a of wild and reckless agitation" which the present Government have to deal with. It thinks the representatives of the people can best "discharge their duties to the country by letting well alone." Good, solid Conservatism this. Let things remain just as they are; let those that have the good things keep them, and let those that are starving starve if they like, but under no circumstances must we progress. That of course is the leading principle in the Conservative creed, What is is right, and must not be altered, because to do so so means spoliation, communism, socialism, and every other ism that is bad. In another column we publish an article from tha Oamaru Mail, which gives an idea of the way in which this politital iaactivity is working. The leases of the Canterbury runs must be disposed of in a short time before May next, i£ we mistake not, and no attempt has yet been made to advertise them, or to let the public know what is to be done. The former Governments made no secret of what they intended to do with them. They intended to cut them into smaller holdings, and let them by public competition. "When a few years ago the Otago runs were let they were advertised freely, with the result thai people from the other colonies came over and invested their money in them, but now they will get no opportunity to do so, because the whole thing is being k«pt quiet *o that the present lease holders shall have no competition, and can get the runs again at their own prices. This is the quietness and the calmness and the political rest which the Press fikes so much, but the representatives of the people will not be doing their

duty to the country unless they create a good deal of noise about it. It is simply disgraceful, but it is consistent with the way the wretched creature who administers the land department at present works. For our own part we think it is the duty of the G-overnment always to take the people into their confidence, by frequently making public their actions and intentions. We also think that a Government that tries to do things by stealth cannot be honest, and we certainly think the present Government is not honest in the sense to which the word applies politically. It is certainly dispiriting to see the people taking no interest in politics as it gives no hope of improvement; but that is the policy which the Press likes to see cultivated, for it is by such meaas the clique of which it is the mouthpiece can secure advantages and monopolies, and literally steal away j the liberties of the people. This they J have done already. The Press talks about reckless borrowing and extravagance, and as usual shifts all the responsibility on the Stout -Vogel Government. This is most disgraceful. The Stout-Vogel Government borrowed only £1,500,000 out of the £37,000,000 that had been borrowed when they relinquished office, and it is disgraceful to charge them now with extravagance. "Who got the finances of the colony mto a-muddle? Who made all the political railways ? Who borrowed all the money? The very people of whom the Press is the mouthpiece, and now they want us to keep quiet, say nothing at all about it, and let them enjoy the fruits of their years of scheming and chicanery. After abusing the Stout -Vogel G-o----vernment roundly the Press proceeds to hope that nothing will be said about the property tax, as a land tax would be monstrous. We believe the property tax is the best, but we certainly think that it falls too heavily on industry and too lightly on large land owners. The Stout-Vogel Ministry proposed to exempt from its operations £3OOO worth of agricultural implements and improvements, and £3OOO worth of machinery, but the Press clique defeated them, and now farmers have to pay duty on every article they possess. Serve them right. When they had a good Government they kicked them out, and now if they have to pay taxes it is their own fault. But the G-overn-ment that will crowd the taxes on the poor and let the rich off easily is the one which suits the Press, and hence the reason it is such a determined supporter of the present one.