THE CAVERSHAM ELECTORATE.

Evening Star, Issue 7233, 8 June 1887, Page 4

THE CAVERSHAM ELECTORATE.

SfO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —Mr Warner simply proves what I stated, that the first name on tho published list was that of an employe in a protectionist firm. But he wishes to beguile me and my fellowworking men when he says the electors of Caversham want “a more direct representative of labor ” than Mr Barron. That is not what the promoters of the meeting wanted. They want a Protectionist, however much they may try to work their little game up, Mr Barron is too much a Freetrader for them.

Will these men guarantee that my wages will be protected and increased proportionately to the same extent that ono or two master ironworkers and shoemakers wish to swell their profits at the expense of the poor ? For Protection taxes fall more heavily on such as I and my mates than it does on such fellows as Mr Barron. It is no use telling me otherwise. I have been in America, Victoria, the Old Country, and here ; and for clothing, boots and shoes, and iron, and other work we are taxed heavily enough out here already. Again I say, beware, fellow laboring mon; keep your weather-oye open to these few Protection monopolists, who wish to grow fat at the expense of the general mass of us. Let us stick to tiiose wo know rather than carpetbaggers we know not. Let the promoters of tho meeting bind Mr Barron down to doing away with the honorariums to the Legislative Councillors ; let them insist upon ids working to really reduce the bloated Civil Service; go in for a reduction of the number of carpet-baggers who vote themselves L2OO a-year.

Fellow laboring men—pick and shovellers, carters, farmers and farm laborers, miners, painters, and many otheis—what will you get by having to pay more for your boots and shoes, your clothes, your rice, your sago, and maizena? Again I say, do not promise these false friends; wait till you have heard both sides.—l am, etc., Working Man. Dunedin, June 8.