THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8199, 1 August 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1906.

Yesterday, when referring to Sir Joseph Ward as Premier-elect of this country, we ventured to assert that a'very great task, due to certain causes, lay before him, and it is evident, from the brief speeoh which Sir Joseph made from the ship's side at Auckland, and from an interview whioh he had with a pressman, that he is of opinion that the present political condition is not satisfactory* Of course, Sir Joseph does not. say so in so many words, but the flit has gone forth nevertheI lejs. "There mußt," be says, "bo

a new Cabinet, and it must be a strong one.'' The fate of several Ministers is evidently sealed, or, shall we say instead, that - several Ministers fall of years, if not with honour, will suddenly decide to retire; to vanish, in fact, hey-preato-quiok, in response to Magician Ward's wand. Mr T. E. Taylor once, referring to certain members ol the Ministry, describee: them as "creations," and added, "Yes, that is the proper word; for than which is made from nothing mast be created." It may be remarked, in passing, that a most extraordinary state of affairs politically mast prevail when Ministers can be oreated by the will of one man, and be as suddenly swept out of existence by another; but this, apparently, is going to be a portion of 4 New Zealand's history. However, "there muse be a new Cabinet, and it must be a strong one"—the decree has been passed, and we are weil pleased indeed, to learn that Sir Joseph Ward is of such a >n?nd, and to know that be has spoken so plainly. In our humble opinion the 'great problem that will present itself to the new Gove_ "t 5s the over-taxation of the people. Unless taxation in many quarters be very greatly reduced, the danger is ever present, and very near, that New Zealand* may find herself in the midst of grave financial disaster. New Zealand, so far as it is possible to judge, is now in the hey-day of her prosperity, and at the sarre time it must be admitted that the Government's resources and thß private incomes of the people in a very great number of cases are strained to the utmost. Certainly such a condition is to be deplored, and the only way that it oan be accounted for is by the great burden of taxation under which this country struggles. Let our prosperity sink to any appreciable extent, and what then? Were even a brief wave of depression to come across this country one hardly likes to think what the result would be. There is a steadily growing cry for cheaper living. Large sections of the comaunity throughout the country are crying out that they cannot afford the prces that are being asked for various commodities. Even in Masterton, where reasonable prices prevail, we hear the complaint at times that living is too dear. In the face of suoh a position we may well inquire, are tradesmen making larger profits or generally doing better than they were, say, eight years ago, and we venture to answer that, though the cost of living has increased throughout the country, the lot of tradesmen, as a whde, 'is not as good as it was some years ago. Shonkeepeis, along with other sections of the community—those sections, of course, whioh comprise people of modest means—have suffered by the reckless expenditure of borrowed millions, and the large amount of legislation of an unnecosary, harassing, and embarrassing nature. 'There must be a new Cabinet, and it must be a strong one," says Sir Joseph Ward. Truly the need is very great.