The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, MAY l5, 1888.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2472, 15 May 1888, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 1888.

Equal and exact justico to all men, Ot whatsoever state or persuasion, feligiouf or political.

« . The scarcity of labour in the Waikato has been one of the many difficulties our population has been compelled to facp, and the means of driving many families from the district. The whole cause of this state of things has been assigned to tho " depression," now a terribly hackneyed phrase in which are comprehended want of enterprise, energy, very bad management, and equally bad habits. There is no doubt that the reaction which lias overtaken the country at large after its past "burst" of extravagence and prodigality, has made a very perceptible change in the trade, industry and spending capacities of the people. Retrenchment was an absolute necessity, and rigid economy in the future, in all branches of the public service. Reform in the entire machinery of Government, local and general, as well ns a revision in

the system of taxation, have to be undei taken before we can say we have put our house in order again. These are generalities, and we have harped to the same tune over and over again. When, however, we come to enquire intq the minutice of the condition of dullness that pervades our immediate surroundings, we perceive causes of dejection that ought not to exist. Looking at the annual reports of several road boards in the Waikato, it is observed that they possess large unexpended balances of revenue in hand to their credit. It may be a proud distinction to be sought after by local bodies to present the ratepayers with balance sheets showing ' large substantial sums of money in hand, in place of heavy indebtedness ; the chairmen and their colleagues will point to the happy position with great unction as evidence of their official capacity and excellent administrative abilities. There is a, reverse sido to this pleasant picture. It was never intended by the Legislature that local bodies should hoard up their money. The powers conferred upon counties and road boards are intended to be exercised to the full in assisting in the development of the country and the construction and maintenance of the public highways in a state of efficiency. The local bodies cannot carry out thisintention if they tie up in stockings the greater part of tho ratepayer's taxes, in order to tickle the public fancy with exhibitions of unwarrantable " credit balances" at the year's end. Nearly two thousand pounds are at the present moment held in hand by half a dozen of the Waikato road boards, which should have been laid out in reproductive works during the year. It is not a formidable sum in itself, but it is large enough to have been usefully ex-

peuded throughout the several districts, ami been the means of furnishing employment to workers, thus retaining our young men amongst us and not assisting the exodus of our rural population. The distribution of two thousand pounds in wages would have a very distinct efFect on local trade. The whole of the revenue obtained by local bodies by direct taxation from the pockets of the ratepayers should be expended within the year during which they are levied, and should be returned to the district in the shape of expenditure on all local requirements. That is in thewholespirit of legislation so far as government by local corporations is concerned. And properly .so, for by such departure from the spirit of the law, and the improper retention of large balances, we already hear from various parts of the district loud complaints of the wretched and almost impassable state of the roads. ]f such a method of performing their functions is permitted to local bodies, without a protest from the community, the progress of settlement will be seriously impeded. Mit .1. C. AxDKKsox member for Hiuce (Ofcago) arrived at Te Awamutu by train on Monday. Hia object in coming.north was to see the country, aa he considers that every member of the

House represents not merely his own particular district, but the whole coloDy and therefore every member should when practicable make himself acquainted with as much of tlm colony .is possible. He was the bearer of a letter of introduction to Mr R. VV. Roche, who took him to Alexandra on Tuesday, when he paid a visit to Tawhiao with whom he had a long conversation. He was curious to see the great chief who has for so long - a time, exercised such a powerful influence over the whole of the native people, and a3 Mr Anderson will be called upon, when the subject of providing land for Tawhiao and his people comes up for debate, to exercise his vote and judgment, he very properly wishes to make himself as much acquainted us possible with circumstances surrounding the case. Of course in a flying visit it is impossible to make onessc'lf acquainted with the whole or even a portion of the native question, but it is quite possible to see the way the natives are situated, living as they are on a very limited extent of ground and cultivating tho flats on the Waipa within the European boundary, and as the settlement of the long pending "native question'' is to be brought up for final settlement, it is very desirable that every one who will be called upon to take part in the decision should know as much as possible of the subject. Mr Anderson is most anxious to do what is just and right to the natives, and there is no question but that every other member in the House is animated by the same fueling. Mr Anderson, while here, has made many enquiries about the advisability of continuing the construction of the Main Trunk line ;in no single instance did he receive a reply favouring its continuation, the general feeling being that it would be very much better to stop when the section now in hand was finished. Ho is a strong opponent of the line being continued either by the Central or Stratford route. In this he will have the strong approval ot every right thinking man in the country. We hope his opposition to such wasteful expenditure will not end here, but that he will . oppose any more borrowing from the English moneylender. We are staggering under a load of dfbt too grievious to be borne, and it would be criminal in the extreme to add to it in the present deplorable condition of the colony. Another good point in Mr Anderson is his uncompromising hostility to the Protection fad, which appears to have taken such a hold of so many of the city people, and if he and the other members of " Young New Zealand" present a firm opposition to it there will be little prospect of such arr iniquitous measure being carried. On his return from Alexandra, he was met at Te Awamutu by Mr Rutherford, who drove li'iii round Kihikihi, Orakau and Rangiaohia, and pointed out the chief places of historical interest in those districts. Mr Anderson expressed himself as being highly pleased with the district, and said he would like very much to live here. The mild and genial weather exhibited a marked contrast to the colder climate of Otago.