Page 2 Advertisements Column 2

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2708, 19 November 1889, Page 2

Special Advertisements. _ -JTILKCTOKATK OF WAI PA. TOi THE HONOURABLE JOHN BRYCE.

SIK — \V t . the undersigned electors of Wai pa, respectfully request you to allow yourself to be nominated to represent tins constituency in the General Assembly, a vacancy having occurred through the Urm'nUblo death of our late member, Major Jackson. We consider that your re-entry in ro active political life in the present position of public affairs will be of creat value to the colony, and we pledge oursclyes to use every endeavour to secure your return. To Mkssks J. W. Ellis, P. McDonnell, Ehmot Wickham, and the otfikk Four Hundrkd and Eighty-six Elkctors Signing the Above Requisition - .

Gkntlemek,— . . I have received by telegraph an intimation that the requisition has been posted in which you have done me the honour to ask me to become a candidate for the Waipa seat, vacant by the lamentable deatb of my late friend, Major Jackson, whose untimely end we all so much deplore. I recognise your request as an especial bonour considering that I have no individual connection with the Waipa district, and little personal acquaintance with most of 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 pubic spirit you exhibit, and the high compliment it implies to myself, and in placing my services nl your disposal I do w hi the fullest confidence that you will not be likely to regret tin- trust you will have placed in me. I had hoped to have visited your district previous to the election, but the near approach of the day of nomination renders it impossible to hold, in a satisfac tory manner, those public meetings which are customary and proper. 1 hope to be able to address you on public affairs at no distant date, but meanwhile it is not difficult to give a general sketch of my political creed. In things political I endeavour to be moderate in my views and actions. I try to regard legislation, administration, and the industrial pursuits of the colonists in a direct and common sense aspect. My opponents may say that "direct and common sense " in ray case really means "narrow and common place, but tins is a distinction which I a.n content to remit to your judgment. I feel the most loyal desire to promote the settlement of the land, and the establishment of inanufactnrincindustriesßuitatletothecolony,but I have no sympathy with fanciful legislation, fadical theories, or crude political nostrums on these or any other subjects, and I have as little sympathy with all taxation which is not demanded and justified by the imperative requirements of 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 artministration of its affairs. The improvement of local government must bo looked to as a. chief factor in bringing about the desired i.-nd, and in my opinion there is vet ample room for retrenchment in the departments of the General Government. I shave the opinion which I hope now largely prevails, that an indulgence m the luxury of borrowed money involves the most serious dangers, direct aud indirect to the well-being of the colony, and while not prepared to say there shone be no further loins for all time, I should certainly regard renewed borrowing proposals with profound distrust, and should demand strong proofs as to their necessity. Indeed I venture to express a hope that the idea of reducing our mdebtedusss by the repayment of loans will not always be deemed wild ami impracticable. I believe it is a happy thing for the country that native affairs do not now occupy a large space in its politics. Ihe treatment of native land appears to be almost the only remaining question peculiar to the Maoris. The natives themselves have so deep a distrust of all legislation affecting their land that a law on the subject, to use a common expression, "satisfactory to both races.' is scarcely to be hoped for. With the ae. certaiumentand individuahsation of title, the time will come, however, in the not distant future when native land (γ-jththc exception of reserves) will be held by the same unrestricted title, with the same ri«hts and the same duties, in which land is°held by liuropeans. This, it is true, does not'rualist my own views on the subject, but it seems the beat we can look forward to with any reasonable hope of fulfilment. I should have concluded my address iu reply to your requisition at this point had I not been asked to allude to three separate matters of political concern—railways, property-tax, and reduction of members of the House. As to our railways, I have always held the opinion that the management lias endoavoured too closely to imitate the European administration, forgetting that in older countries the railways are generally private property, that the population is dense, and that the other eondllions are very different from ours. I believe that this '' besetting sin accounts for a "reat deal that is complained of 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 advocates of that plac expected from it, but I agreed to the experiment being tried, and having done so I am willing to cive the Commissioners a fair trial tor the remaining term of theii office without attempting to supersede their functions by the introduction of a fresh system, or systems. . ,11 As to the l'roperty-tax I should be sorry to attempt the defence of any tax per lc, and it is plain that in this instance the Property-tax invites criticism by being a direct tax, moreover it has the farther 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 I have to add that the revenue derived from the tax appears to be necessary to the Government of the colony, and I am unable to see any mode of direct taxation by which it could be suitably replaced. A Land and Income tax has been mentioned, but even under the Property-tax 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 and uncertainty would arise from the small degree m which fixed incomes exist, aud a very slight examination of the subject will show that such a tax to produce the m-ciayary amount, would require to be high U> an oppressive extent. I hope that bad features;m the Property Tax may be mitigated or removed, but speaking with some sense of responsibility, I am bound to say I see no chance of that " immediate repeal which is sometimes demanded, nor could I undertake to advocate such » course. ' In the reduction of the number otthe members for the House of Representatives 1,0 principle ia involved. It is in fact a mere determination of the most proper number required for legislative purpose., having regard to the population and other circumstances of the colony. In m opinion the reduced number is not too «n P «U. Indeed, I should have no objection to see the House still further redtfeed to, say, eixty members. In collusion, gentlemen, I assure you 13 few mHwm**?* J e^ Twr