The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 1890. POLITICS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2032, 12 April 1890, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 1890. POLITICS.

Thebe never was a time when politics were more dead. Neither Ministers nor members of Parliament are giving us the slightest idea of the position of affairs. Ministers we know show no disposition to take the people into their confidence, and members of Parliament are evidently waiting until Ministers have had their say before giving an account of their stewardship. We see no reason for the delay of the latter. Members of Parliament ought to come before their constituents, and give them an honest account of what has been done, regardless of anything which Ministers may have to say. The session will open in a month or two ; it may be that we shall have a dissolution immediately afterwards, or it may be that we shall not have it until Parliament expires by effluxion of time in Ibeptember next. In either case the general election is near enough to begin to prepare for it, and consequently our representatives should set the ball rolling by addressing their constituents. Last year we were told that the position of the colony was very critical, and needed careful handling to carry it through. The position has not improved since then. The only improvement is that our exports have increased, while our imports have decreased, thus leaving a substantial surplus to the credit of the colony. We owe this improvement to the modicum of Protection which we got for our industries. Nothing else has been done to which it can be traced. It can in no way be traced to retrenchment. If retrenchment had reduced taxation, then it might be said that people were able to produce more because of the creased burdens, but this is not the case, because taxation has been increased by about 25 per cent, all «! Un^-xr In every reß P ecfc > excepting the difference between imports and exports, the colony is worse off than it was three years ago. Our national debt is larger—we have added £2,000,000 to it since—the price of the products of the soil are not'better, the value of property has not increased, and there is not the slightest improvement anywhere to be found. If, therefore, a necessity for oetion

existed three years ago, a similar necessity exists now, but it is strange to say that those who were loudest in their screams on this head then seem to he thoroughly satisfied now. This indicates that the principal change the screamers desired was a change of Government. We had then a Liberal Government in power, and this did not suit the screamers ; they wanted their own party in power, so that they could have things as they desired. They have got the Government they wanted, and, though there has been no improvement, they are satisfied, and hence the quiescence. We hear nothing now of the critical state of the colony. In our opinion things are far more critical now than they were three years age. One fact which has been revealed since is that it is hopeless to expect a high price for grain in future. The production has so increased that there is no chance of it, so far as we can see. This was not seen three years ago. It was then hoped that as soon as things became prosperous in England prices would improve in the colonies, but though English trade has become active no corresponding benefit has been felt here. There is, therefore, no room left to us for hoping that we shall get high prices for our grain in the immediate future, and that, indeed, can have no effect but to darken our future prospects- It behoves us, therefore, to awaken to the position. With increasing taxation, decreasing prices, and depreciating values, the outlook is not at all pleasant, and we ought to get about finding out what would improve it. There is nothing for it but more population, but we cannot have that while large estates are locked up and held for speculative purposes. Our first step should be to open these up, and until we do we need not hope for much improvement.