POLITICAL REFORM.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2667, 15 August 1889, Page 2

POLITICAL REFORM.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin, —I was very much gratified to read the letters of Messrs Murray and Shepherd in your valuable paper. It is sincerely to be hoped men will follow suit in the same strain, as we are much in need of reform. Mr Murray says he will assist with his pen and on the platform. That's just what we want, men of that stamp that are not ashamed or afraid to sign their own letters. Mr Shepherd propounds a schome that is worthy of consideration, although I don't agree with him on the manner of election, that is, by the clubs alone. Hut the principle of organisation I agree with heartily. In a letter to the Herald some little time ago I suggested that political societies should be formed, with a head centre in Auckland, having its branches in every country district, the object being to return men pledged to reduce taxation. Very often a candidate may not be sound on every question, but he must be sound on reducing the taxes if we are to live in the country and attract people to our shores. What did Mr Bright say the other day : " That we had a great country, and that people thought well of it at Home," but were afraid to come here and invest their money, owing to the property tax. The way to make people come here is to make them that are here content, but how can we when our burdens are so heavy. Mr Barron in the House wanted a farthing taken off the property tax this year, which would reduce it by £'JO,OOO ; but Government would not hear of it. They wanted to know what it would come off, off the Customs or what, but what's the good of taking it off, ,if it is to be made up some other way. As long as we pay it they will want it,, and moro if they could got it. How on eartli would those poor, hard-worked officials be paid if we were not taxed ? To show you how things are done I will give you an instance. (I get my information from reading the speeches). An office became vacant, a poor devil was retrenched, but a great Mogul at Wellington did not want the office to become extinct. So being in a charitable mood he gave it to a poor clerk at ten shillings a day (the office, mind, was not an important one.) T-ho poor clerk of course thought he was in clover these hard times. But alas for human nature, his hopes were dashed to the ground when he was informed he was only keeping it warm for the " great Mogul's " son, when he had passed his law examination. When the yosng Mogul gets it it will suddenly become a very important office, that cannot on any account be dispensed with, with of course a salary of over £300 a year. Now, to combat these evils we must be united. The Property-tax must be done away with, and the Customs tariff reduced to what it was before last session. It is utterly impossible for members to prevent such things, as long as wo pay the money. I am willing to do all I can to assist, and let us not as Mr Shepherd says, leave the matter until the eleventh hour. —I am, &c. If. JRoche. Ngaroto, August 10th, 1889.