OUT WITH THEM!

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1242, 26 September 1911, Page 2

OUT WITH THEM!

Sir,—The strong man of the Government is now the most formidable critic of ila policy. Mr. Fowlds was wise in joining ■ tho Ministry, for it gavj him an opportunity for making himself a reputation aa an aiimiiiif/i'rator; ho was equally wise in ', resigning when he did, for he is now able to advance his own policy and wipe, out , tho organised hypocrisy which has so long deluded and misled tho people. Tho Prime Minister, as was expected, , has now resorted to wiles. Tho wiles of the past were astonishing; tho wiles of i the present aTO still more so. Tho most astute disciple of Ignatius Loyola could ' hardly excel tho distinguished head of the Government in this line of business. ; The annual Financial Statement says » that tho increased revenue from railways and Customs, amounting to "was due to the activity of trade in all its ) branches." A curious way of putting it. Ploas-3 observe that it does not say that tho increased revenue was due to "in- , creased trade," but to the "activity" of trade. Tho increased revenue was, of course, largely, if not wholly, due to in- ' creased railway fares, and, if I mistake not', to increased taxation. As for trade, it has been more or less depressed for tho last four years, and it would still bo very depressed were it not. for the largo sums ■ of borrowed money now being expended upon public works. But we shall soon have another dreadful slump in trade, and thousands of workl«s peoplb as the direct result of land monopoly and inflated land values—unless steps are taken to prevent it, and the Government will not take , these steps. When tho slump comes not ' even soup will be provided for the worklass people, if our present rulers are retained in office. Parliament will, again 1» closed, and there will be another long trip. 'I he vote-catching proposals of the Bud. get are numerous and marvellous. As you observe, sir, "old age pensions concessions are proposed to catch the older generation ; railway employees arc promised consideration; tho bait of increased salaries is held out to Civil Servants; farmers nre promised aid through- co-operative banks;, the old promise of Public Service classification is renewed; a State farm for the South Island—long overdue—is to be procured at last; widows are to bo assisted; remissions o.f railway fares; a State nole issue proposal is brought forward to catch that sachon of the community favourinf ' a paper currency; unemployment insur. ance is to be relegated to that convenient fall-back, a'Royal Commission; cheapening of tho cost of living; more active loud settlement, and prosecution of road works." In tho judgment of people who like to see. fair piny it i? not fair fighting for a Gov. eminent to* promise largo bodies of State • servants more wages on the eve of a general election. Who can wonder at the. loud demands for tho public services io be under the control of boards responsible not to Ministers, but to Parliament? Bin, what'; are.- these oilers of more wages to State , ' employees? Are they not gross insuite? Are they not intimations that the ; men are so contemptible, so lost to nil ■ self-respect Hint they will- sell their .free. dom, their birthright, nnd continue tin slaves of monopolists, and of Minister!', who support monopolists, for trifling additions to their wretched pittances? It is ', surely tinse that tho whole body of mental and manual wage-earners resented euch . insults and demanded their full rights. It is time they ousted the Ministers who have helped to fleece them of nil but the barest living for so many years. But of what value to any men are the promises of Ministers? Have they not broken their promises again and again? Why their pathway is strewn all along with broken promises and pledges. They nre absolutely unworthy of confidence. But oven supposing they fulfilled their promises, the monopolists would lose nothing nnd the masses would be no better off. On tho surface tho Budget appears to favour the poor man, but when wo get to the bottom of it,we find it to bo just what wo had expected—a rich'mnn's Budget. Even iir the reduction of, railway fares it favours the rich and well-to-do classes, for there is no reduction of fares on less dMaiiccs thnn 200 miles. Tho Budget does not toucli any monopoly. Our aristocratic ruler takes no stand against monopolies. The Government gives a few shillings to a few widows,, but they main'.ain monopolies and iniquitous taxes which press on widows and orphans daily. Out with such ii pestiferous Government! Wo arc (riven a new Liberal lender, and one of tho best in the world— tho Hon. George Fowlds. All voters who are not prepared to vote for Mr. Fowlds's candidates should do the next best thing —vote for Mr. M'n=sey and his men, nud thus blot out of the political life of this country the great organised Liberal-' Labour hypocrisy which has so long afllicted us,' and which continues tho chief obstacle, to national progress.—l. nm. etc., ' EDWARD T, EVANS. ' ' September 9, 1911. l'.S.—Your correspondent "F." may: ceaso weeping—his Department will not) , bo abolished for 6omc tune yet.