The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1889. DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1970, 16 November 1889, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1889. DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH.

We have to congratulate Mr H. W. Moore on the paper he read recently to the G-eraldine Literary Society. It was at ence able and thoughtful, and it Bhowed that Mr Moore is a man of broad sympathies and a generous disposition. We hare frequently been asked recently to explain what is meant by Socialism. We have now only to say " read Mr Moore's paper." We do not know whether Mr Moore will like to have his views on the distribution of wealth characterised as Socialistic. Socialism in the popular mind is synonymous with lawlessness, godlessness, anarchy, plunder, and everything else that is bad. It does not mean anything of the kind. It means nothing more nor less than that the wealth of the State should be more equally distributed, and that everyone should have enough, instead of a few being alio wed to accumulate all while the many starve. That is the quintessence of socialism; it has nothing to do with religion ; nor is it anything at all like what it is painted, As we have said, Mr Moore may not regard it as a compliment to have his uame associated with a word which the

sophistriesofself-interesthave rendered odious. We inteud it as a compliment. We think it is far more creditable to have one's name associated with it than with a system that yields such scandalous results as the present one. Let us take, for instance, tho cablegrams of the last few days. From them we gather that a son of the Duke of Beaufort and a distinguished member of the Stock Exchange have had to fly the country because of a charge of unnatural offence being preferred against them. A few days later more light was thrown on this subjeot. It was then asserted that a horrible scandal had been reported in connection with a West-End private club ; that 98 persons, including future Dukes, sons of Dukes, Lords, and Earls, Hebrew financiers, many Honorable members, and several officers of the Imperial Army were implicated, that warrants were issued for their arrest, but were not executed as the offenders fled the country. We cannot, of course, comment upon such beastly profligacy as is thus disclosed, further than to say that it is in this way the wealth of which the poor are defrauded is very frequently spent. Another matter connected with this is the fact that,' because of their position, these beastly criminals have been allowed to g& unpunished. What is the use of talking about all men being equal before the law. It is not so; there is still one law for the rich and another for the poor, Another cablegram tells us that the Duke of Westminister is organising a powerful opposition to some efforts t\iat are being put forward to improve the sanitary condition ef a part of London. .The'meaning 'of this, no doubt, is that the corporation of London have on hand a scheme for widening streets and improving the appearance of a part of London which belongs to the Duke. He objects, because the widened streets will lessen the number of houses he will have to let. He has no regard for health, for appearance, or for anything elae; he only looks at the £.s. d. view of the matter. The Duke owns a large portion of London; his income, it is alleged, is £365,000 a year, yet he is as covetous and greedy as if he had scarcely enough to buy bread. It is against such social iniquities as these that Socialism directs its energies, and if, properly understood we do not think it would at all be regarded as the dreadful thing it is represented by those whose interest it is to cry it down.. Mr Moore has done good service to the cause of the poor with his excellent paper on the distribution of wealth, and he deserves the thanks of all honest men. ' FAIR PLAY. Sin TCoiert Stout writes ai follows to the Otago Daily Times : Sir,—l must reoord my protest at the unfair way in which the Opposition is being treated by the Press. The Press Association forwarded of Mr Balance's v«ry able speech only a oenlenca or two. Contrast this treatment with what happened when Sir Harry Atkinson was lesder of the Opposition. When he spoke attackiug the late Ministry there wan a tolerably full report wired all «*>er the colony. Whatever the Press may think of the vieWß of the Hon. Mr Ballance, he is the leader of the Opposition, And represents them. And if the Press is to act fairly it must allow both parties to be heard, and the more especially when the bulk of the newspapers are Tory—or anti-Radical, at all evonts. Iq fairness to Mr Ballaoc9, and to the party he loads, I think the least you csu do i* to publish hi* speech in full. I believe its publication will be the best refutacion of your criticism on it, and on him. —I am, etc., Robbrt Stout. November 11th. The Napier Evening News states ,that it was the duty of the Hawkes' Bay Herald to have sent 4 a telegraphic report of Mr Ballanca's aieefing, but thai paper ia under the thumb of the Ormond clique and the twelve apostles. After quoting the miserable and misleading report of Mr Ballanei's speech which was telegraphed all oyer the oblony, the News says :

Look at the end of these fifteen miserable lines of omission, a mte ofthanhivas passed. So it was, but there was something more! The rssolution as passed, without one singis dissentient voice and at a gathering of nearly' 900 peop'e, ran as follows :—"That this meeting records a very hearty vote of thanks to Mr Bal lance, and expresses its satisfttction with the vieivs he has enunciated on the hading political questions of the My." Just see what was left out!' 1* it not scandalous uiat such a measra and' misleading report was sent ? Wecalluponthevafipiifloewspapers of the colony to protest against'such a onesided, dishonorable way of describing a speech by a publ : c man of Mr Ballance's standing;, and we bsg to draw the attention of the Press Association to the disgrace fill i bias of one of their Napier agents. That is all we hare to say. The facts as above stated speak for themselves.

Evidently the clique did not want Mr Balance's news to go before the public. They do not want light let in on their doings; they do sot want the public to. know both sides of the question ; they wish to keep the people in ignorance of what is going on. It is no use to rare about it; it is only part of the old tactics, and it pays. The same clique is keeping the power in their own hands by this means, and the general publie can't see. We shall hare an election next year, and we have not the slightest doubt but that the people will yote as they always have done, for the purpose of keeping these people in power. And then they ask why doss not the colony progress, and fume and fret because things) are not just as they want them. The people are themselves to blame j

f they were of the proper stamp they would resent such base, cowardly trickery as this at the elections, by voting against every candidate belonging to that party, but this they will not do, and so there is very little use in making a fuss about it."