The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1890. GOVERNMENT BY MAJORITIES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2116, 25 October 1890, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1890. GOVERNMENT BY MAJORITIES.

An advertisement announces tnat on Tuesday, the 28th lost., a public meeting will be held in Temuka to form a branch of the People’s Political Association. We are not acquainted with the aims and objects of this association, but, judging by its name, we inclined to the belief that it is intended to work in the Liberal interest. That being so, it has of course our sympathy, but at the same time we think that it requires to go to work carefully and endeavor to avoid ah aggressive attitude Wt the present time, Still there can' be no doubt that Political Associations are very much wanted throughout the colony. We should like to see both parties establishing permanent organisations throughout the colony, and if this were done an immense amount of good would result from them. Ostensibly we are at present governed by majorities, and to this no reasonable person could object. If the majority of us is Conservative the Liberal minority ought to content itself with endeavoring to make converts and swelling it ranks by all honest and legitimate means; if, on the other hand, Liberals outnumber Conservatives the latter ought to accept the inevitable with an equally good grace. No one ought to object to the verdict of the majority, but unfortunately such is the chaotic condition of public opinion that it is impossible to guage it. For instance, there are at the present time several organisations at work in each of the large centres of population, and some in the smaller ones, forming platforms for the various candidates. We have , seen several of these platforms, and find that ne two of them agree. There ia a fearful lack of knowledge ef present requirements noticeable amongst them, and such is the 'confusion of ideas whieh is cropping up that it is almost impossible for any candidate to ascertain what is the real Liberal or Conservative programme. The result of this will be that the next Parliament will be a reproduction of previous ones. Prom 1884 to 1887 the Stout-Yogel Government were kept in office not because they had a majority but because it was thought desirable to keep Sir Harry Atkinson out. In the same way Sir Harry Harry Atkinson has been kept in office in order to keep Mr Ballance out. This comes of electors having no definite platform to go upon at election times. If men were elected on definite lines as they are in the Old Country they would have to adhere to them. More corruption, bad legislation, and general demoralisation results from this than from anything else, and nothing but the formation of a sound public opinion can alter it. What we want, therefore, is associations representing both shades of opinion. Let the Liberals have their associations and

the Conservatives theirs, and. let each work far a definite policy. It would bo ten times better for us t® have a good, strong, honest, .Conservative administration than a Liberal Government who could do nothing except by resorting to corrupting influences. Let us put down corruption and insist on having pure politics, and this we can best do by forming a sound public opinion.

FARMERS’ UNION. * A Farmers’ Union under the Presidency of Mr G. M. Bell—a sou of the Agent-General—Jhas been formed in Otago. It ought 1 more appropriately be called a Squatters’ Union. The first article in its political creed is “ The reduction and amendment of the customs duties so as to make it a tariff for revenue purposes only,” the second is “Intercolonial Freetrade.” The, first article demands Freetrade with all the world; the second demands Freetrade with the other colonies. It is evident from this that those who framed this programme have not very clear ideas as to either Freetrade or Protection. If they confined themselves to demanding Freetrade with other colonies they would secure the support of many, even amongst Protectionists. There is no legitimate argument against inter-colonial Freetrade, but it would be madness to destroy the few industries we have at the presant time by removing the very small amount of Protection they receive. As regards inter-colonial Freetrade it must be the result of a mutual agreement between ail the ..colonies, before New Zealand can agree to it. Let us see what are the prospects of such an agreement being arrived at ? Victoria would; probably agree to it, because she has, by means of Protection, built up her industries, they are now in full working order, and she could successful compete for the lion’s share of trade in the Australiasian markets- She, therefore, has all to gain and nothing ,te lose by such a proposal; It is remarkable, however, that the Victorian farmers are opposed to it. Then there are the New South Wales farmers demanding Protection, and without doubt the next election will result in a change in that colony. Then there is South Australia, which returned at the last election not a single Freetrade representative. How are these colonies :to be converted to Freetrade ? It is absurd to expect it. An idea pat forward at the meeting was that a policy of reciprocity should be adopted This is ridiculous. It means that we should allow the goods of New South Wales in free and tax Victorian goods. Victoria would just like this very well. She would first of all sell her goods to Sydney merchants, and these would sell them to New Zealand. The profit of the Sydney merchant would be more than the amount of the duty we should put on, and thus we should lose by the transaction. We should not gee cheaper goods, and the money which under existing circumstances goes to lighten taxation in this colony would then go into the pocket of the Sydney merchant. The programme of the Farmers’ Union is a mad one. If they are Freetraders, let us have Freetrade, and then the question arises, Who will pay the taxes? Are the farmers ready to pay five times the amount of their present property tax? If so, let them have freetiade by all means, but let them know that taxes must be paid, and if they remove them off the customs they must put them on property.