THE DESIRE TO GET RICH.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2925, 14 April 1891, Page 2

THE DESIRE TO GET RICH.

TO THE KDITOK. Sik,— If it was not that inau had a desire to got rich, the world, as far as man is concerned, would come to a standstill. Providence knowing this, implanted in man a desire ami craving for wealth, either in the shape of golrl or land. That being granted, it logic.illy follows tint.Socialists mid parouns--the oii-J when he politically declaims against the we:ilth of the few and the poverty of the many, and the other when he preaches from the pulpit that the desire for wealth issoul-du'rtrnyiiig — it follows that they arc both wrong. It must be wrong to go agiinst what is implanted by the Creator in man, for what is implanted is done for a purpose. Man's redemption will not come from his ceasing to crave for wealth. The redeemed man will be he who craves for wealth but will do iitthiiuj iwmirllni to get it. The truth is, the exceptional man who has no craving for wealth is entitled to no credit, beoutse ho docs no smart tricks, for where there is no tomntition there is no virtue in abstainine- This brings men to class legislation, ami what I argue is that class legislation is tho production of poor men iu contradistinction to the wonderful wisdom of the Creator. We see tlidt the world would stand still if men did not become wealthy, either in gold or laud. It naturally follows that it is the correct thing for men to mass wealth ; consequently class legislation, which would destroy wealth, is sapping the foundation of what is the chief factor in the carrying on of the every day life of man. If- is not the actual wealth that is the mainspring, i; is the desire, but then you cannot l.avo tin; one without having the other, the wealth is the outcome of the desire. This brings me to Mi Ballaneo and Co., who proclaim that they are going to spoil the rich. If the rich arc to bo spoiled, then as a matter of course tin; desire to become rich will cms-. , . 1 ask Messrs Ballance and Seddon or H.'e-s and Shcra what will follow when this desire censes? They will perhaps say tint the many will be well off. I deny it. will be so, I s;ty the many and the all will return to barbarism. We lately hoard a great deal about the Duke of Westminster's £10 per minute. This £10 per minute is the outcome of cbtss legislation, the then class of wealth and power created a 1-iw of entail. If it was not that there was a law of outail the Duke of Westminster would be as poor as I am. Tlm evil of his having £10 per miuutn is the outcome of not leaving wealth to natural laws, there should be no class legislation to unduly protect nor destroy wealth. MiEditor, it will be said that in sayingthat wealth and poverty is according to divine laws as man is at present constituted, that I am saying a cruel and hard saying, but when you come to look into it, it is not so hard and cruel as it appears, wealth, except in eutailed estates is not hereditary, if I am poor my sou will be rich, if you are rich your sou will be poor, this is a law which is unalterable. It therefore follows, that if the rich had the power and were to keep down the poor, it ultimately would end in keeping their own flesh and blood down. And if the poor will, if they have the. power, spoil the rich, it ultimately would end in the spoiling of their own flesh and blood, for it is well known in Lancashire that there is only three generations between clod's aud clogs. Mr Editor, this showa that each and all of us havo an interest in the protection of the rights of property, aud that tho taxation of property so as to wmliseatu il will cud in the overturning of everything which governs the carrying ou ot the life ot man. The only l.rue and just taxation is a properly tax which will ta\ all property, uhether it be laud or gold, according to the quuutity each has. That there should be e.\cmptiou is aguiiisl all principle, and principle must never bu tampered with, to legislate so aa to catch votes has been the curse of New Zealaud, and I am afraid that more of that same is yet to come.—Yours truly, HAKAFtI-J;.