POLITICAL BRIBERY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 617, 21 September 1909, Page 6

POLITICAL BRIBERY.

Sir,—Before, the election, your morning contemporary professed the greatest,unconcern as to the result'of the above, stating that even if the Government candidate was beaten,' a vote less was of no moment. -It is most amusing, therefore, to read the'tirade in its'issue of this morning, "and that of.;; the ActingPremier in his statement to a reportcr.of your evening contemporary. in'. to-night's issue, now that' the result is against tho -Government. Nothing is too bad. The-electors who voted for: Mr. Hockly are fools, and will have'to. cudnre all'the unpleasantness that a "Liberal" Government can mete out to those who oppose the sweet will and, pleasure-of •the men who compose it. One. really begins to' wondor whether he has the right to think at all, or act contrary to the wishes and intentions of the .'Government. All. who are against'them are of the lowest type of politicians, and anything but honest from Mr. Massey downwards. 1 ask the public to judge the characters, for probity and honesty, oL.tho leaders-, of' the Reform party,. with 6ome 'of tho so : called Liberal, either in public or private life. Surely there are honest men outside the Government and' its following! It would-be a poor-thing for the country if there wore not. . ... •■-..:

Of all the monstrous methods to catch votes is that, proposed by tho 1 -Acting-Premier ;as published in the issuo of your evening contemporary of last night. It shows the depth to which-some of the/present Ministry will descend in their endeavours to keep, in place and-power. The Acting-Premier; by, telegram, has,' through -Mr. ' Smith, the. Government candidate at the second ballot, informed the settlers of Taihapo- that ."the Awafua .Bldck would be opened up "for settlement at an early date. Now, if.this is not barefaced political bribery I do not know what is! How is'it that these bribes were not thought necessary before tho election 'becamo necessary? ' Settlers of the country don't place any dependence on the political utterances of a man whose whole body is bound up, in the words ,of his own language, "Taihoa." .

Settlers assist a man who will do his best to get the freehold for you, and hot a Government whose supposed plank was nothing but the leasehold. As I have said before, the Government will do and promise anything to gam, a vote. Who are the mainstays of tho Domimon-and whoso' interest should the Government study? That of the farmer, comprising in that word, agricultural, dairy, and sheep farmer, as if it was not for thorn the Dominion could not rast-and yet they are refused the freehold.-! am, etc., 'V l 1 .„ FREEHOLDER. September 18.