The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1891. WELL DONE!

Temuka Leader, Issue 2157, 31 January 1891, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1891. WELL DONE!

The present Government are wording vigorously. The Hon. Mr Seddon's dashing action with regard to police removals, haa been follawed up by a bold step taken by the Honorable Mr Reeves; A hospital inquiry was going on in Auckland, but the tribunal set up to investigate the matter was not deemed satisfactory, and so the whole matter has been postponed. The Minister of Lands is doing more important work still. Some runs in the North Island which the late Government had advertised for sale have been withdrawn pending new regulations being made. The Oamaru Mail of Wednesday last says :

" We are in a position to state positively that runs 300 and 301—16,000 acres each —Maerewhenua (now in the occupation of Messrs A. A. and R. M'Maater), have bsen withdrawn from sale by the Minister for Lands, and that the petition of the sottiers in reference to the Maerewhenua runs is being considered by the Government with a view to doing the petitioners justice. There is also every reason to believe that other runs, including the Kyeburn, concerning which the settlers in the locality have been so much agitated, will be withdrawn in deference to expert reports as to their suitability for settlement, and in compliance with the wishes of the Land Board and the public." This is the way to do it, and perhaps this explains the bitterness of Mr Scobie McKenzie's attack on the Government, The Kyeburn run belongs to Mr McKeDzie, and recently , a meeting was held to urge Mr Richardson, the late Land Minister, to open up Kyeburn for settlement. Mr Richardson disdainfully rejected the requests of the people. The local Farmers Club passed the following resolution recently:—■ "That that portion of Kyeburn known as the Lake run be opened for settlement I immediately, and that this club protest strongly against releasing the same for pastoral purpose's." Mr Richardson paid no attention to all this, but now a new order of things has set in, and the representations of the people are going to be taken into consideration. No autocratic Czar, but a man of the people, who sympathises with the people, holds the reins now, and the result will be satisfactory. | And yet people will tell us that there I is no difference between them, and that one is aa bad as the other. We hope these things will not be forgotten when the next election comes on.

INTERESTING TO FARMERS. Time after time we bare tried to make farmers realise that their best friends are the Liberals, but they do not seem to believe it. We have repeatedly pointed out how in 1885 the StoutTogel Government attempted to exempt from taxation £3OOO worth or the improvements made by farmers on their lands, and how again in 1887 they made an attempt to relieve small farmers of taxation. We have now to direct their attention to the first step taken by the present Government as regards the farming interest. They have inaugurated a portfolio of Agriculture, and placed in charge of it one of the most intelligent, most practical, and most capable farmers in the colony in the person of Mr John McKenzie. Mr McKenzie will now devote himself to the interests of farmers, and as he is a thorough representative of the class he certainly ought to be able to do good. At any rate the present team are determined to do all they can to advance the farming interests. In this they will be strenuously supported by the much-abused labor representatives. Mr Pinkerton, a real labor representative, in seconding the Address-in Reply, said " he thought they all agreed that the success of the country depended on the farming interest, and every means should be taken not to overburden farmers unduly. Th 6 property tax pressed heavily on small farmers, and he for one should be in favor of removing that tax. He commended the Government for adding a portfolio of Agriculture to the Cabinet." Farmers can see from this that they have nothing to fear from the representatives of labor. We ask farmers therefore, to cast off prejudices, and accept the present team in a friendly spirit. We have no doubt they will find it difficult to do so. The large landowners' blandishments are too much for them ; they cannot see that his interests are different from their own, and consequently they allow themselves to be duped by them. We sincerely trust, however, that the policy of the present Government will inspire them with confidence, and enable them to distinguish between true and sham friends, THE SIXTH MINISTER. Me Cadmajs" has joined the Ministry. Mr Goldie was offered the port folio but declined it, and recommended Mr Cadnaan to accept it. An unusual circumstance took place in connection therewith. Mr Cadman called all the Auckland members together and put the matter before them, and asked their advice as to whether he should or should not accept the seat in the Cabinet. Of course they advised him to take it, and as, no doubt, his own inclinations tended that way he took it. This is perhaps the first occasion on which a member of Parliament consulted his political opponents on such a subject. It appears, however, to have been a clever move on Mr Cadrnan's part. All the Auckland members spoke very encouragingly to him, and promised him support, unless the policy of the Government demanded of them a violation of their pledges, 'lhis looks well for the Government. FURTHER BORROWING. The New Zealand Times suggests to the Government that they should borrow money to complete the Trunk line and buy the Manawatu Railway. If they do this their doom is sealed. The whole cry against them is extravagance. We know the charge is false, but we know also that nine out of every ten men are ready to believe it. If they were as economical as Daniel Dance, the miser, and if they made ten pounds out of every pound they borrowed the cry of extravagance would be raised and bei lieved all the same. As they value v their political existence therefore they must avoid borrowing at any rate until they have succeeded in inspiring the country with confidence in them. It is possible that a loan judiciously spent I would do good, but we warn the Government that so sure as they borrow their opponents will spend. The policy of the present Government should be of a domestic nature. It should consist of land settlement, adjustment of taxation, and retrenchment, and if they succeeded in these matters satisfactorily and inspire the country with confiderce in then? they will be permitted to borrow and spend as occasion for it arises. ■» THE PAN-ANGLIC AN CONFERENCE. The Timaru Herald is really amusing lately. It reminds us very much of Scotty Briggs, who found it hard to avoid saying a "cuss word" when talking to the parson, and felt "an awful strain on him while carrying on the palaver." It is so with the Herald. It finds it hard to avoid a " cuss word" with regard to Mr Ballance, and so there is "an awful strain " on it " in the palaver " lately. But as evidently it does not deßm it advisable to abuse Mr Ballance as usual it feels at liberty to abuse Mr Ballance's supporters- One of these is Mr Rees, whom the Herald abuses because he has suggested that there should be held a conference of the English-speaking people to consider the labor quettions. The Herald ridicules the idea, and says that " very little attention would be paid to a suggestion of the New Zealand House of Representatives." Oh! Ihanks sage and worldly-wise Herald. Have you ever heard of the question of the I

Imperial Federation? Did not that originate ia the New Zealand House of Representatives? It did. The late Mr James Macandrew, in the New Zealand House of Representatives, some eight years ago carried a resolution to the effect that there should be a federation of the British Empire, and what has been the result,? The suggestion was taken up most heartily, and has been the subject of frequent discussioa ever since. Why should not Mr Rees's suggestion be taken up ? There is no reason whatsoever why it should not. It is simply a magnificent idea. If the Englishspeaking people of the British Empire and America could possibly be welded into one commonwealth it would yield more good to mankind than all that has been done for the last 100 years. There is no reason in the world why it should not be so. If legislative bodies neglect to bring such a union of the English speaking people about there is no reason why the labor organisations Bhould not do so. Be that as it may the idea which underlies the proposal is intelligently humane, and consequently deserving of respect.