The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1881.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 936, 28 November 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1881.

Who are the so-called squatters of New Zealand against whom democratic candidates hold forth, and with whom they bait their traps for voters? Are they not the successful working men of New Zealand ? Even a man at the top of the tree, like the Hon John Hall, has in past years done his day's work in the fields, toiling as patiently and steadfastly in tho open air as he now labors in his office. We could point to some of the proudest and wealthiest squatters in the Wairavapa who have absolutely worked for wages with pick and shovel in the earlier clays of the colony, They did not change from working men into squatters by any special dispensation of Providence, nor did they possess any facilities for rising which are not at the command of the working men of to-day. They simply toiled early and late, they worked while others slept, they saved while others spent. Good legislation did not set them up, and bad legislation did not pull them down, New Zealand was then aud is now one of the finest countries in the world for industrious men to thrive in, and just as long as working men do justice to themselves they must make headway in it. Many a working man now in the colony earning his six or seven shillings a day will he ten years hence a small squatter, and twenty years hence a bis; one, The squatters of New Zealand, we repeat, are simply its successful working men. If those who constitute the labonii" classes of New Zealand were wise they would cease to regard them with suspicion and distrust and look upon: them.. with pride, Many of them have risen from the ranks to the highest place*'of |

honor in the-colony, and it is open to almost every man in tho colony to follow in their footsteps. 'Mr" Bunny talks gteat nonsense about their taking all the.land., He does .not do this because he is ignorant or'ill-informed. No one one knows better than himself Unit there are millions of acres all over the colony which, were squatters ten times as numerous as they are, they could not occupy. li e tells his audience this because they are simple enough in many instances to'believe it. If the successful working men are not to be trusted, who are] No one who has a fair amount of judgment or experience cares to employ an unsuccessful lawyer, doctor, carpenter, or ploughman. No dependence can be placed upon them, and a preference is sure to be given to the men who are known to be reliable and trustworthy. The same rule holds good witli the selection of Parliamentary representatives. The best men who can be returned are the successful working men of the colony, the worst men those who are unsuccessful workup men. Good economical government is what the rich man in this colony desires, and it is the best government for the poor one. The so-called squatter can make more money in a prosperous community than he can in a poor one. It is to his advantage to be surrounded with small farmers and it is profitable for him to be hemmed in by small freiihoklfrs. He cannot, if he be in Parliament, benefit himself by any law he may assistto pass without conferring a corresponding advantage on the working classes of the Colony. We would like to see the working men of this disti'ict follow in the footsteps of those working men of twenty years ago who have risen step by step to the highest positions in the Colony. This they can do by industry, frugality, and intelligence. A man may, and frequently does, indulge in political agitation for a lifetime, and is, at the end of his career, in much the same position as when he started. It is the man who goes to work' to make a future for himself who succeeds in life. We do not deprecate any man taking an intelligent interest in politics. It is to his advantage to do so, especially if he lias sense enough to leave cripples alone, and to pin his faith to winning hones, There is no country in the world where unsuccessful men have belter chances of becoming successful men than in New Zealand. The change is one that cannot, however, be made for them. They must make it for themselves.