THE COMING ELECTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2848, 14 October 1890, Page 3

THE COMING ELECTION.

TO THE F.nn'Oß,

Sir, —We .ire again on the eve of a general election, and a very important one for New Zealand, as according to Mr Bryce's statement we are nearing a financial crisis. I read his address, but I cannot agree with you and others that it displays great statesmanship, it all depends how one takes it, perhaps my head is thick and I cannot understand it. It puts ine in mind of the " Peep showman with Daniel and the lions ; small boy, please Mr Showman vitch is I)aniel and vitch is the lion ?" Showman, " which ever yon please my little man, you pays ynur money and you takes your choice." He (Mr Bryce) gives us nothing definite, with the exception of telling us how our Parliament is a disgrace to us. The indebtedness of tho country, the net revenue and fixed chames that can't be touched by the knife, being tabooed. He tells us the purse is empty, and the only way to pull the colony out of its difficulty is "by prudence and economy." Yes, those two words mean a great deal, but would it not bo mora satisfactory to the electors if Mr Bryco would let us know in what way he would economise. As he is the candidate, and I understand will give no pledge, so in fairness to the electors he ought to be more definite. Mr Withy, in his farewell address, indicates the path we ought to follow. Retrenchment, of course, is the main feature, in otder that our burden of taxation may be lightened. But in my opinion so long as taxes aie imposed and the money paid into the treasury, there can be no rnatorial retrenchment, as the heads of departments will scoop the 000 l no matter how much the members may cut down the estimates. I should like Mr Bryce to eive us his opinion on unauthorised expenditure, his views on the property

tax we know, although he seemed to modify them in his speech at Te Awamutn. but afterwards at his Ohaupo meeting he seemed to be more emphatic in favour ot it, saying

that he had heard no argument against the tax at any of his meetings. Of course he did not, bow could he ? when the public were not allowed to give their opinion. I proposed a resolution on the subject at the Te Awamutu meeting, but was ruled out of

order by the chairman, because forsuolh it whs Mr Bryce's meeting, and it misrht cause disseution to the opinion of the meeting an important subject was stifled through the ruling of a chaiunan. I would have combated his arguments afterwards (it Ohaupo, but there was another satellite of the hon member in the chair then, who would have jumped down my throntif J had said a word. After that address I lost considerable faith in Mr Bryce, especially wfien he accused Sir G. Grey with playing into the hands of land speculators, which I very much doubt, when I knew at the time the hon. member himself was guilty of handing over 200,000 acres to the Patatere Company. I thought stone-throwing of that sort came with a very bad grace from the hon. gentleman. I believe Mr Bryce means well, and is honest, but if he was as honest as the Fupe, what's the good of it, if he won't help to reduce taxation ? But, more anon, Mr Editor; I've written enough for a start anyhow.—Yours, &c., H. Roche. Ngaroto, October 10th, 1890.