AN INDEPENDENT PARTY.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 101, 30 April 1898, Page 2

AN INDEPENDENT PARTY.

TO THE ED1TO1!. Sib — I congratulate the Trades Councils Conference for declaring their future independence, seeing that New Zealand now can only look to an Independent Party for securing purity of Parliament and consequent public economy. The Opposition Party never has had any consideration for the mass of the people, simply because it never had to provide the interest payments, t During the Atkinson regime it piled on £30,500,000 of public debt, aud only lately, in 1895, increased that enormous sum by £4,250,000 Bank guarantee. You will doubtless remember, sir, that I was almost the first man some years ago who declared myself for three measures — an Independent Party, purity of Parliament, and reduction of taxation. The first has come — viz., the Independent Party. The second has been turned for Party purposes into "purity of administration." That I never asked for, seeing that I prefer the maxim that "the whole is greater than a part." The third (public economy and reduction of taxation) should be the flag of the Independent Party. I admit that the Opposition has performed a useful constitutional work. I admit also that the present Government, iv following out Mr. Ballance's policy of non-borrowing, has been a far better Government for New Zealand than that of the Atkinson Party which preceded it ; but both sides have been too extravagant, aud they must now give place to a higher public policy— viz., that of public economy and reduction of taxation. For what, sir, do we find ? The Premier declaring the other day " that money was no object," whereas the whole people of the colony are suffering from the scarcity of money in circulation brought about by the immense annual draft of taxation, nearly £5,000,000 now out of our £9,000,000 of production. What keeps us all poor and struggling but this ? Next, we saw Mr. Billcliff at the Trades Councils Conference stating "that when a Banking Bill was to be passed the Legislative Council would sit up all night for it ; but an Old Age Pensions 'Bill was at once thrown out." Sir, the Government Party, the Opposition Party, and the Legislative Council have been too ready to pass the Banking Bills, thereby increasing the burdens of the poor. The Independent Partj^assoon as it reaches power should set up a Royal Commission to enquire into the whole banking business, prosecute those who have done wrong, and cut the colony clear from the . banking question altogether. Ido not trust Captain Russell nor his side of the House over this banking question. One of his prominent supporters, equally with Mr. Seddon, took a seat upon the Assets Board while a member of Parliament. The Opposition has not shown much desire to have the banking scandals exposed. Mr. G. Hutchiuson certainly did when independent, which he still should be. The Bushy Park transaction appeared to be consented to by both sides of the House. That is why I ask for purity of Parliament and nob purity of administration. There cannot be pure administration if Parliament itself is impure. As to the Old Age Pensions Bill, I object to that on the ground that we cannot afford it, seeing that we are too much taxed already. Then as to Mr. Rolleston's late speech at Christchurch, I have always respected Mr. Rolleston as a liberal-minded statesman, but iv giving in his adherence to the Laud for Settlements Act, whereby certain large runholders evidently intend to unload their immense properties on to the State, to the increase of our general taxation, I distinctly charge him with favouring a party to the injury of the people. The small farmers of Canterbury can arrange with these sellers without State intervention. Our duty is to study public economy. From his expressed views on the bank question, however, I should like to see Mr. Rolleston declare himself independent, more for the repeal of the Land for Settlements Act, and with any other Independent men now in Parliament, such as Mr. Duthie, join forces with the Left Wing, and form an Independent Party to take the reins from Mr. Seddon and Mr. M'Kenzie. These two Ministers must see that they h RW ? <*one their work, and, I say, sir, done it well too. But they must now give place to others. Will they give place to the remnant of the Atkinson Party, which brought this colony to ruin, and whose members form the present Banking party, or will they, in perfect self-abnegation, allow an Independent Party to see to the purity of Parliament, the reduction of taxation, and cutting the colony clear from the Banks ? I might point out that when Party spirit runs too far the people of England have always chosen a middle or third Party to temper political strife for the •good of the nation. In this moderation lies England's success under. Party Government. Sir, we want a third or Independent Party now here, clear from the views of the present Government, and clear from the awful administration which we had under the Atkinson regime. The Labour Party cannot trust the present Opposition, and unless

Mr. Rolleston declares himself Independent that Party should join the Left Wing, which is Independent. I consider that the Left Wing has done excellent public service, and that the whole colony should admit, and I write but in the interests of the colony as a whole, not caring myself even to trust to a future incompetent Cabinet which would increase our burdens, either for railways, banks, or the purchase of big estates, knowing that the cost would fall upon Customs revenue, and be therefore supplied by the mass of the people. Our crying want is an Independent Party, determined upon an impartial enquiry into the banking business, and also determined to reduce taxation. I respectfully recommend these measures, therefore, to the delegates of the late Trades Council Conference, and also to the ladies forming the present Women's Conference. I am, &c, Coleman Phillips. Wairarapa, 20th April, 1898.