The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, OCT. 6,1891.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3000, 6 October 1891, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, OCT. 6,1891.

Mr Rees hus been tho first member t.o ascend the stool of political confession and ask absolution for his mistakes and approval sit the hands of the electors of his actions in other respects. The address calls for comment, not from its intrinsic merits, neither does Mr Rees' political status call for more than a passing notice of his utterances. It must, however, be t-.iken as indicative of the position which, the henchmen of the Government have been instructed to take: up during the recess. In his introduction, he gives a definition of tho two political parties from which we must dissent. He defines the one us that which desires to keep things as they are. and the other as being composed of men who are desirous of going torward in the interests of the people. The Opposition have no desire that matters should remain as they are ; they aro quite as alive to the unsatisfactory state of affairs as the Government party. As to the latter desiring to advance in the interests of the people tho word people is an exaggeration, and rtsctuires, to be truthful, the words "•' a section oE the," before it, and there might justifiably bo added "mo matter at what cost to the remainder." As regards the incidence of taxation, the Opposition equally with the Government, advocate the substitution of Land and Incoeae Taxes for the Property Tax, on the grounds mainly that the taxation of improvements contracts energy and makes employment more scarce for those who depend upon wages to support themselves and families. They naturally do not favour the hybrid measure which, has become law, which has, however, from want of confidence on the part of the Government in their own measure, been hung up till next year. Neither do they approve of the ascending scale, which avowedly means confiscation. They are also unable to appreciate the justice of taxing the cultivators of the soil at a higher rate than any other class. In a former article we pointed out that the lowest scale is equivalent to an income tax of Is Sd in the .-£, and tiie highest reaches the preposterous length of 4s 9d. This may be for the interest of the people, but it will be difllcult to convince those

wiio aro to bo the victims, of the soundness of the proposition. As regards Mr llees' charge that the majority of the press favour the old Atkinson administration, this is not the fact, as the expressed feeling throughout the colony has been distinctly in favour of a change, and to this fact is quite as much owing the victory of Mr Roes' party at the last election as approval of its policy. Mr Roes may take it for granted that the press represents the people, ai.d the people have too keen a sense of right to feel justified in confiscating any man's property, and too much sense to hare for very long laboured under the delusion that injustice to one class could permanently benefit any other As Mr Ree3 has called attention to the

Auckland Star as being one of the oases in tin; desert, wo may remind him th.it as regards the progressive Land Tax it is only entitled to praise at his hands, for the reason that it lias not, so far as we can remember, argued in its favour or attempted to refute the reasons ui'rr''rl against it. Tin's should he very cold consolation to Mr Roes, as the Star poses as the champion of advanced Liberalism. It is creditable to the editor that he. can distinguish between true Liberalism and glaring dishonesty ; but it would have been much more so had he aided those who look to him for guidance to arrive at right conclusions on a matter which involves the honesty of the people of New Zealand being questioned. As regards the Payment of Members Bill, Mr Rees abuses the Council for having what is technically termed "lost the Bill," but he omitted any allusion to the resolution promising to sanction a measure so long as it only applied to the House of Representatives. He was in the secret no doubt, but he does not divulge the reason of the Bill not being endowed with, life in the form suggested. As regards the treatment of Mr Bryce by the House, which has brought the Ministry into disgrace with all sections of the community, Mr Eees carefully avoids allusion to the cause of the memorable words " The Premier ought to be ashamed of himself." Nobody appears to have asked him his opinion of the conduct of Mr McKeuzie m making gross charges against his predecessor, then practically reiterating tho charges under the pretence of withdrawing them in order to prevent Mr Richardson's motion for enquiry being put. It would bo interesting to know what excuse the supporters of Mr Ballance can make for his conduct in opposing a motion for enquiry into tho statements put forth by his colleague. Mr Eees would have us believe that he framed his motion entirely out of consideration for Mr Bryce, in order in fact to prevent one much more violently worded being brought forward. Mr Rees knew Mr Bryce, so did the Premier, and they were perfectly aware that tho precise wording of the motion made little difference as co probable results, and tho milder the terms in which censure was passed the less disgrace would rest upon their political characters. As must have been contrary to the expectations of many of his hearers Mr Eees did not advocate either the abolition of the Council or the swamping of the constitutional party by adding a long list of creatures of tho Government to the roll. The time is not opportune and ho no doubt actod on instruction from his chief, who is well aware by this time that no true Liberals are of opinion that it is just or politic to legislate for one class at the expense of another, and in consequence feel that a debt of gratitude is due to tho members of the Council for their firmness. As we wrote above Mr Roes' speech was only of interest so far as it indicated party lines and wo must confess that the public is but very little wiser for its deliverance. It is matter for speculation as to which banner Mr Eoes will follow when Parliament meets again. Gratitude for £400 per annum or the necessity to give outward signs of that virtue may keep him true to Mr Ballanco, but it would not surprise us in the least to find him ono of the band led by iSir George (-troy. Tho crumbling of the Ministerial party has commenced and next session cannot fail to expedite tho process. The country is awakening to what Mr Ballanco m power means, aud members are likely to have a very bad quarter of an hour with their constituents in consequence.