Page 2 Advertisements Column 1

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2707, 16 November 1889, Page 2

Special Advertissinents. T7ll- KCTO EA T K O V WAI PA. TO THE HONOURABLE JOHN BRYCE. We, the undersigned electors of Waipa, respectfully rcqnc f t you to allow yoursi>lf to be nominated to represent tins constituency in the General Assembly, a vacancy having occurred through the ]~,„-ntiihlo death of our late member, Major Jackson. We consider that your re-entry into active poliiical life in the present position of public altairs will be of great value to the colony, and We pledge ourselves to use every endeavour to secure your return. To MkssksJ. W. Ellis, I\ McDonnell, Ernkst Wickham, and the oTtiun FotTR HONDHED AND EIGUTY-SIX ELKCTOKS SIOSINO THE ABOVE Requisition. Gentlemen,— ... I have received bv trlegrnph an intimation that the rerjuisition has heen posted in which you nave clone me the honour to ask me to become a candidate for the Waipa seat, vacant by the lamentable death of my late friend, Major Jackson, whose untimely end we all so much deplore. I recognise your request as an especial honour considering that I have no individual connection with the Waina district, and little personal acquaintance with most ot the Gentlemen signing the requisition._ I have never made popularity a principal aim, but it is a great satisfaction to me that I bear a good reputation among my fellow-colonists, as is evident from your present action. I recognise the public spirit you exhibit, and the high compliment it implies to myself, and in placing my services ot your disposal I do so in the fullest confidence that you will not be likely to regret the trust you will have placed in me. I had hoped to have visited yonv district previous to the election, but the near approach of the day of nomination renders it impossible to hold, in a satisfactory manner, those public meetings which are customary and proper I hope to be able to address you on public altairs at no distant date, hut meanwhile it is not difficult to give a general sketch ot my political creed. In things political I endeavour to be moderate in mv views and actions. I try to regard legislation, administration, and the industrial pursuits of tlu colonists in a direct and common sense aspect. My opponents may say that "direct and common sense" in my case really means "narrow and common place, but this is a distinction which I am content to remit to your judgment. I feel the most loyal desire to promote the settlement of the land, and the establishment of manufacturing industries suitable to the colony, but I have no sympathy with fanciful legislation, fadieaitheories, orcrudepolitical nostrums on these or auy other subjects, and I have as little sympathy with all taxation which is not demanded and justified by the imperative requirements ot the State.

New Zealand in my opinion will never be a cheaply governed country, but every effort, consistent with efficiency, should be made to economise the administration of its affairs. The improvement of local government must be looked to as » chief factor in bringing about the desired end, and in my opinion there is yet ample room for retrenchment in the departments of the General Government. I share the opinion which I hope now largely prevails, that an indulgence in the'luxury of borrowed money involves the most serious dangers, direct and indirect to the well-being of the colony, and while not prepared to say theres ion d be no further lows for all time, I should certainly regard renewed borrowing proposals with profound distrust, and should demand strong proofs as to thennecessity. Indeed I venture to express a hope that the idea of reducing our indebtedness by the repayment of loans will not always be deemed wild and impracticable. I believe it is a happy thing for the country that native affairs do not now occupy a large space in its politics, the treatment of native land appears to be almost the only remaining question peculiar to the Maoris. The natives themselves have so (Jeep a distrust of all legation affecting their laud that a law du the subject, to use a commou expression, "satisfactory to both races, is scarcely to be hoped for. Willi tii«s ascertainment and iiidividuahsatiou of title, the time will come, however, m the not distant future when native land (with the exception of reserves) will be held by the same unrestricted title, with the same rights and the same duties, m which latul is°held by Europeans. This, it is true, does not' realise my own views on the subject, but it seems the best we can look forward to with any reasonable hope ol fulfilment. I should have concluded my address ir, reply to your requisition at this point hart I not been asked to allude to three separate matters of political concern-rail-ways, property-tax, and reduction ol members of the House. As to our railways, I have always hel<: the opinion that the management has en deavoural too closely to imitate Uu European administration, forgetting tha in older countries the railways are geiier

ally private property, that the population is dense, ami that the other conditions are very different from ours. 1 believe that this '' besetting sin " accounts for a great deal that is complained nf in railway management. Again, I never felt much confidence that the handing over of the control of the working railways to a Board of Commissioners would produce all the benefits the ad vocal es of that plan expected from it, but I agreed to the experiment being tried, and having done so I am willing to »ive the Commissioners a fair trial for the remaining term of then office without attempting to supersede their functions by the introduction of a fresh system, or systems. As to the Property-tax I should be sorry to attempt the defence of any tax per sc, and it is plain that in this instance the Property-tax invites criticism by boin" a direct tax, moreover it has the further disadvantage that the valuations on which it is based are frequently excessive, unequal and unjust. In this respect beyond doubt improvement is required. But having said that 1 have to add that the revenue derived from ihe tax appears to be necessary to the (Government of the colony, and I am unable to see any mode of direct taxation hy which it could be suitably replaced. A Land and Income tax has been mentioned, but even under the l-Vopirtytax land is taxed to well-nigh the limit of its capacity to pay, and of the Income tax it must be said that it is felt to be inquisitorial and obnoxious wherever it exists. In New Zealand grave additional difficulty ■aid uncertainty would arise from the small degree iu winch hxed incomes exist, and a very slight oxamuiition of the subject will .-bow that such a tax. to produce the necessary amount, would require to be high ;o an oppressive extent. I hope that bad f-at-re-* m the Property Tax may be mitigated or removed, but speaking with some sense of ■•osponsihilir.y. I nm bound to say I. aorj 10 chance of that ■' immediate repeal. which is sometimes demanded, nor could L undertake to advocate such a course. In the reduction of the number of the nembers for the House of Representatives 10 principle is involved. It is iu fact a nero determination of the most proper mmber required for legislative purposes, ravin- regard to the population and jther 'circumstances of the colony. In ,iy opinion the reduced number is not oo small. Indeed, I should hayo no ob,ction to see the House still further c.i.c-d to, say, sixtv members. 1-, ,-i,:ieiuM-.ii, ..'en h-men, I assure you i■" y-iii do me the honor to elect me ~. ,o'j;- rt-i.r«cuwiive, I aUII endeavour