The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1890. THE HONORABLE MR ROLLESTON.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2117, 28 October 1890, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1890. THE HONORABLE MR ROLLESTON.

Thkee years ago we opposed the Hon. Mr Rolleston not because we thought bira unfit to represent the district, but because be was associated with the Atkinsonians. We fondly expected that three years reflection would change him, but we regret to find that it has not. He is, according to his recent speech, more Atkinsonian than ever. He was fulsome in his praise of the financial policy of Sir Harry Atkinson, but how he could be so without a blush, passeth understanding. Mr Rolleston's leading idea last election was no more borrowing. Sir Harry has borrowed nearly 2| millions since. How is this Mr Rolleston ? A flaw in the Loan Act passed in 1887 resulted in borrowing being delayed, and this cost the colony between £BO,OOO and £IOO,OOO. Then Mr Rolleston screamed Freetrade last election ; Sir Harry Atkinson has put on Protective duties since, and now Mr Rolleston praises the financial policy of the Government. We always thought Mr Rolleston sound on the land question, yet we do not find him condemning the scandalous manner in which that department has been administered. We expected this at least from him, and we are extremely disappointed so far with his speech. Sir Harry Atkinson has driven between 10,000 and 20,000 people out of the colony, and increased taxation by £330,000. Mr Rolleston still admires him. He has not one word to say about the absolute uselessness of the Government, nor against the disgraceful treatment of Judge Ward, nor the illegal appointment of Judge Edwards, and he does not believe that there is any truth in the Hutchison charges, because he is convinced of the honesty of the Premier. Well, we must admire his loyalty to his old chief, but really we think it would have been more to his credit had he deserted him long ago. As regards Atkinsonian honesty, so far as politics are concerned we did not think that even Sir Harry himself would lay claim to it. In 1884, Mr Postlethwaite, who supported the Atkinson Ministry, of which Mr Rolleston was then a member, called them a lot of Yankee log-rollers. Captain Sutter, of Timaru, another of their supporters, said something to the same effect, and Mr Sutton, a North Island member, boasted that he sold his vote to them. How is that for honesty, especially coming from their own supporters. Then what about that member—we forget his name just now—who was taken into the Premier's room during the dinner hour, and there squared so that he returned into the House and wound up his speech in favor of the Q-overnment ? Here is honesty ? ihen why has not the Premier denied the charges made by Mr Fisher against him to the effect that wealthy firms have been allowed to go fccot free, while poor men have been punished for evading the customs duties. But what is the use of multiplying instances of the corrupt practices which the Atkinsonians are well-known to resort to in order to retain powe*. It ought to be well-known by this time. Mr W. C. Walker addressing his constituents last week, said he was elected to oppose Sir Harry Atkinson, and had continued to do so for six years. The more he knew of him the more determined he was to oppose him. Mr Walker is a squatter. Mr Saunders, another Atkinsonian supporter in his recent speech said that during the crisis of the Bank of New Zealand £1,181,977 belonging to the coloay was lying in the coffers of the bank, bearing interest at 8 per cent. At the sametime Sir Harry Atkinson borrowed £700,000 at 5 per cent, from the Colonial Bank. The loss to the colony | was per week. There was ■ £1,181,977 lying to the ereditpfthe^

Government, yet Bir Harry borrowed another three quarters of a million—a fact which can be proved by referring to public accounts. What does Mr Bolleßton call this? Does it look honost? Mr Hutchison said the reason it was done was to help the Bank of New Zealand through its difficulty. We regret exceedingly the stand Mr Rolleston has taken. We fondly hoped that we should see him associated with Mr Ballanco in the next Ministry, but his speech puts that out of the question. He is an Atkinsonian body and soul, ard it is no use to try to make anything else of him.

SHEARERS UNION. One ot the principal public men in South Canterbury having circulated a report to the effect that the Shearers and Laborers Union men would not work with farmers Bona unless they joined the unioia. The farmers sons would have to join the union, or put on their coats and remain idle. He also said that pleughmen and teamsters would not attend to their horses in the morning or evening, as they had determined en working only 8 hours a day, other men would have to be employed to look after the horses. Mr Twomey, regarding this a 9 absurd, wrote to the President of the Shearers and Laborers Union, and has received the following reply:— Dear Sir, —Your letter of the 6 p h to Mr W Lundon, has been handed to me, re members of the Shearers and Laborers Union not working with farmers son's unless the farmers sons join the union, I also ploughmeu and teamsters wanting ! somebody to harness and unharness their horses. lam instructed by the executive of the above union to ask you to give those statements a denial when giving your political address, wishing you every success, and thanking you in anticipation, Yours faithfully, H, Franklin, Hen. See. People can see from this the absurdity of listening to every cock-and-bull story they hear. Puch stories as these are calculated to do harm and frighten people. In the beginning of the strike we advised farmers not to trouble themselves about the unions, and we find that our remarks were reprinted in other papers. We repeat the advice. Farmers need not be afraid of the unions, because they will never injure them. No one, working man or any other man, except a lunatic, would injure farmers. It would be absolute madness for anyone to do so. Farming is almost our only industry, and anyone with a grain of sense in his head would do all in his power to develop and assist it. If the farmers would take our advice they would take the working men into their confidence, and unite with them in shifting the burden of taxation from their own shoulders. Instead of doing this they always go with the monopolists who use them as machines to grind taxation out of them, Let the farmers compel the wealthy to pay mere taxation, and they will have to pay leas themselves, and this they cannot do without joining hand in hand with the working men.