THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3000, 6 October 1891, Page 3

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND.

TO TIIK EDITOR, Sir,—The exigencies of public affairs linve culled into existence an association wl.ich would iipi'it hive been inquired but fur the Vuliticul dishonesty of t ho present Government—viz., the protection 'if property from confiscation. -Men who possess land or money iiro justly alarmed nt llin wholesale robbery *i openly proposed by Mr V.allance and his party. They ais wakiug "P to n nense of their position, i.nd are now realising that, combination will alone save tliem from .spoliation. Kvory trade has its union for self-protection, and these unions, having nttiliated, present a solid front in political contests. The leaders of these combinations, having nothing to lose and all to gain by reducing what should be good governnient to what is little short of anarchy, are doing their best to create feelings of class prejudice ;ind hatred for their own selfish ends. On" of these agitators told me one day that "all capitalists are thieves," and that "all ciime, vice, and intemperance could be traced to freehold ownership in land." The wonder to me is that workingmen, who have the same reasoning powers and faculties as any other claw, should be led away by such claptrap. It will be the duty of' all those who join the National Association to show working-men that their true friends are nut those who utter such sentiments as those I have just quoted, but thu capitalists, pi'opcily-holders, and ail who- are employers of labour. Surely labouring mull aro aware of the fact (hat they cannot exist without the assistance of the so-called "sooi.il pests " any more than they cm exist without food and air ; and if tlio present Government are allowed to pi on with their insane legislation unchecked, all who have to depend on their wages Jor a living will Mud themselves, in a position, the gravity of which thny do not apparently realise The farmers of Waikato as well as other districts in the colony will shortly have the opportunity of enrolling themselves in an association which ' lias for its objects the good government of the country and tlio protection of property and individual interests, surely the highest ami of any tJoveriimeut. Since the Taxation Hill was passud tinarxial institutions in England have refu.sixJ to advance any capital for investment iu New Zealand. There arc many who will say that such refusal is by no means an evil, but it is clear that the resources of the country cannot bo developed without capital and it matters little whose the money U if we can only get it spent in the colony. Granted that the capitalists are absentees their money would bo sunk here, they are entitled to the interest and it would be the height of folly to Hav they shall not live whore they like. It would of course be preferable to have those men residing here but if they choose to enjoy incomes in England or elsewhere they have a perfect right to do so. The doctrine of " New Zealand for the Now Zealandera," will not do, we must induce people to come here and to do so there must be some organisation among those who aro patriotically inclined and who will, at tho next election, (which by Mio way may be closer than people imagine) return men opposed to the "wild cat'' schemes of Mr Ballanco and his followers. It has been said that farmers are the worst class in the community for combination, it may be so, but they have nover before had to face such important issues as at the present time. Their interests have at no tiino in tho history of the colony been in hucli grave peril, and when the issues aro placed fairly before their and they see how necessary to their very oxistenco combination is, I fool sure they will give au unmistakable contradiction to tho statement.— T am, etc., ft. W. KOCUB,