OPEN COLUMN.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 37, 16 September 1867, Page 3

OPEN COLUMN.

(To the Editor of the Wairaeapa Mercury.) Taratahi West, September 7, 1867. Sir,— As I think it only just to the electors of Wairarapa as well as fair towards Mr Bunny himself that they should have an opportunity of reading what their representative “ actually did say ” on the Financial Statement, and not be led to form an erroneous opinion f. om what he may choose to say verbally to the electox-s at the close of the session, I beg that you will insert the following extracts from the Parliamentary report as published in this day’s issue of the “ Independent.” ‘■Mr Bunny said that the Provinces wex-e not in a position to tax themselves. * * * He had no objections to find with Provincial Institutions himself, save that the outlying districts were disregax-ded, but the complaints that were made would probably cause tnis evil to be remedied in future. * * * If the Government would only extend the legislative power of the Provincial Council, the House might make a two year’s appropriation at a time, and then it need not meet so often. * * * They had been told that the Tariff pressed heavily on the working classes, but it was all nonsense.”

Now Mr Editor it appears to me that Mr Bunny’s speech on the “ Financial Statement ” is quite consistent and in keeping with his speech on the “ Local Government Bill.” In both instances he deprecates local taxation. Although Mr Bunny is strongly opposed to the local taxation of landed property, he is strongly in favor of heavily taxing the working classes for the purpose of making bye-roads to any landed property, whose owner can get the Provincial Council to vote away the poor man’s hard won earnings. Mr Bunny insists on heavily taxing the coarse rags worn by the poor half-starved widow and orphan at a higher rate than the fine clothing worn by the rich, but Mr Bunny states that it is all nonsense to say that the Tariff presses heavily on the working classes. The working man’s coarse pair of trowsers pays a heavier tax than Mr Bunny’s finer pair, because the coaxser they are, thv bulkier and also the sooner worn out. A working man is as heavily taxed for his tobacco, his tea and his spix-itious liquors as the rich, and fr nm the nature of his employment consume quite as much if not more of those articles. The working clashes wear more shoe leather than the rich, but Mr Bunny says it is all nonsense to talk of it.

The hard working farmer pays a heavy duty on every bag he requires for his produce but Mr Bunny wants the bona fide settler’s money to make roads to improve the property of absentees and land sharks that won’t spend a single penny for opening up the country for settlement. Mr Bunny has no objections to Provincial Institutions, although he makes a great cry out about not getting justice for the Wairarapa, but at the same time he is in favor of giving the unimproving land owner a number of votes in proportion to the number of acres he may own or occupy so as to swamp the bona fide settlers in the election of Road Boards. Mr Bunny thinks that the Government is able to give more legislative power to the Provincial Councils, and that it ought to do so. I think that the power of the Pro vinciaL Councils ought to be limited entirely to administrative functions.

Mr Bunny also thinks that the General Assembly ought to make a two year’s appropriation at a time. What a monstrous proposal this is in a country like blew Zealand where circumstances change more in one year than it does in England in three years. Our fathers fought and bled for the privilege of a parliament session every year for a redress of greivances, but Mr Bunny would place an irresponsible power for two years in the hands of the Government to do as they liked without the country being able ,to call them to account for it. If the “Independent” has mis-reported what Mr Bunny “ actually did say ” it is to be hoped that he will request you to publish his speech as corrected by himself from Hansard. I am Sir, &c., W. Asderson.