POLITICAL NOTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2533, 25 July 1893, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

A writer in the Christchurch Press boasts that the cause of the unemployed now is that owing to the graduated tax employers are unable to employ men any longer. Mr E. G. Wright said practically the same thing in Ashburton recently. Anyone can see that this is not true. The only people affected by the graduated tax are large landowners, and they never employed a great many. The number they could throw out of employment and do their best would not be very large. The ridiculous feature of their argument is that farmers have been taxed so that they are unable to employ men, while everyone knows that the farmers’ taxes have been reduced. But, no doubt, what we call farmers they call cockatoos, and what we call squatters they call farmers. There, no doubt, is where the whole mlfbake comes in.

The policy of the Opposition is to take off the graduated tax, and put it on what,? This is very important to think over just now when the election is at hand. The Opposition mean to take off the graduated tax if they got into power ; that they have not tried to conceal, but they have not told us on whose shoulders they will put it. What is more natural than to conclude that they will put it back on the shoulders of the cockatoos. The present Government took it off the cockatoos and put it on the squatters ; if the change is to take place there is no place to put the tax except back on the cockatoos. That at any rate is plain enough.

Mr Saunders says that there are 13 farmers in this Parliament, and of these 11 were Government supporters, and two belonged to the Opposition last session. The two Opposition farmers were Messrs Itollestou and Lawry, but now Mr Lawry has turned completely round and is supporting the Government, leaving Mr Eolleffou the only farmer on the Opposition side of the House surrounded by squatters,mortgagees, and money-lenders. This ought to speak for itself.

The question of protection versus freetrade is cropping up in our politics once more, and some learned gentlemen delivered great speeches in favor of freetrade last Friday iu Parliament. Let it bo remembered that wo have not protection at present. Under Protection goods which we could not manufacture would bo allowed in free, while goods producoable in the colony would be taxed. Under the present tariff everything is taxed. There is one thing certain : Goods are as cheap now as they'were five years ago, if uot cheaper, therefore the increase in the duty did not increase prices. Another thing is, they say, that it was Sir Harry Atkinson’s finance improved the condition of the colony, and as this consisted of increasing the customs the natural conclusion is that we have been beuefitted by it. There can be no doubt but many of the woollen industries at any rate which were on the verge of bankruptcy five years ago are now in a prosperous position. These are things we see with our own eyes, and such evidence is far better than the opinions of dead economists. A committee was formed to inquire into the question of how to promote and foster local industries.

Sir George Grey is reported to be seriously ill, and will not be able to attend Parliament, but he is said to be interfering in the fight between Messrs Cadman and Rees in Auckland. Sir George is in favor of Mr Rees, who in all probability will bo elected. The odds hpo j i) favor of Mr Rees, because all the Conservatives are bound to block for him out of spite to the Government, and then Mr Rees is bound to get a large share of the Liberal electors, as well as those who jyill be influenced by Sir George Grey. Besides, Mr Rees is a bettor speaker than Mr Cadman, and thus he has everything in his favor. There is this, however; No one could be better liked than Mr Cadman, for no one has led a more blameless life. His character up to coming in contact with Mr Rees was like Caesar’s wife above suspicion, but that has not been the case with Mr Rees, whose career gives critics scope for talk. If Me Cadman wins it will be his own good name that will secure his return, and not any adventitious circumstances for certainly the advantages are on the other side.

'jF&e l y reirfief has agreed that electoral I a,!,id of application for regis--1 ***&&& A© at every country MtUse, m or&ep that electors in post . ' may themaelyes .examine remote distil ’forms offt»pJi.sajtion the rolls and fill in w. -- net upgu should they find their names ai them. 'l’he applications will then . for warded free by the postmaster. This wdl obviate the necessity for the present system of sending round electoral agents to secure the registration of electors in sparsely settled districts.

The Lyttelton Times says “ The Financial debate is dragging its slow length, along, and members who at first showed a disposition to confine their remarks to relevant questions have fallen into the vicious old habit of discussing every earthly subject under the guise of debating the financis of the Oniony. The actual time already consumed in the debate is 43 hours and a quarter, and the greater part of this can truly be said to have been wasted in personalities, trivialities and vain repetitions. This time is divided as follows :—Fifteen Opposition speakers have occupied 23J- hours, while 18 on the Government side have spoken for 10 : i hours. The speakers during the past week were 8 on the Opposition side and 10 on tho Government side, who have covered 13 hours 25 minutes and 12 hours 25 minutes respectively. The two longest speeches of the debate, so far, aro those of Messrs Fisher and M’Lcan, which each extended to exactly 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Tho Canterbury Liberal Association are dissatisfied with the proposals of the Government to sell for cash a portion of tho Cheviot estate. Wo quite agree with them, but they must not forgot that it may be necessary to sell some of it in order to

get rid of the beautiful mansion that is there. The association has passed the following resolutions : —“ Seeing that in the purchase of the Cheviot estate by the Government a large portion of the sum paid for it is for the unearned increment, and that, should it be disposed of in any of the methods permitted by the “ Land Act of 1892 ” the state will probably at some future time again pay considerable sums for the further unearned increment, the Canterbury Liberal Association is of opinion that in the interests of the people at large it ought only to be let under perpetual lease, with periodical re-valuation of rent, but without the right to purchase, and that this association strongly urges the Government to obtain, if possible during next session, the authority necessary to secure to the state the future uneared increment.”—“ That in the ultimate subdivision of the estate the Governmeut should, as faraspacticable, provide for the small farmer element.”