THE PREMIER’S DEFENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 7247, 25 June 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE PREMIER’S DEFENCE.

Sib,— Tour correspondent “ Richard ” has let off his stilted phrases and hysterical fancies on the wrong occasion. He should have kept them for some other subject more befitting hia grandiloquent verbiage. Where is the “ toady* ing, place-hunting, backbiting, and slander*' that he speaks of in those correspondents who have criticised adversely the extravagant actions of the Government, and of the Premier who is in name at least its bead? He says that the matters referred to “are those in which we all have a common interest.” Where, then, is there any ground for his absurd tirade? Does this moon-struck individual suppose that any amount of varnish, or so-called “ explanation,” will make the facts different from what they are? Does he suppose that the Premier’s glibness of utterance will make it clear that he was consistent in accepting one day seventy-one members and within a Say or two after having done so refusing to proceed with the Bill unless a larger number was allowed? Does he imagine that people are so befooled as to agree with the absolute alienation of 2,500,000 acres of the country’s territory to a foreign syndicate for railway building, and at the same time swallow the Premier’s land nationalisation theories and the purchase by the Government of private estates ? Does he suppose that the country will give credit to the professions of economy and retrenchment of the Premier and the members of his Government while they squander public money in tbe most extravagant way on their own salaries, residences, and travelling expenses—cause two sessions to be held in one year, at a cost to the country of L 420 per member—and with the coolest effrontery propose to the Colony (now staggering under eighty or ninety millions of debt, and taxation already insupportable) to increase the burdens of rich and poor to a far greater amount by customs, property tax, protective duties, and every kmd of local taxation, in the name of local government ? The country is feeling too deeply the results of the reckless government of Sir R. Stout and his overbearing Treasurer (with precedence!) to tolerate longer such an incubus, and, I have no doubt, will show this with sufficient plainness at the approaching election, in spite of all the special pleading and ad eaptandum appeals to the unemployed which may be presented. If “ Richard ’’ has anything to say in defence of the Premier’s Government, let him say it; but in charging with slander, backbiting, etc , those who speak about public matters in wliicli they have a direct interest—as really as the Premier or any member of his Government —this writer is guilty of the offences which ho professes to condemn.—l am, etc., Justice. Dunedin, June 24.