SOCIAL MATTERS.

Evening Star, Issue 8773, 14 March 1892, Page 3

SOCIAL MATTERS.

TO THK KDITUK. Sir, Much as we may from time to time burlesque our politicians and their apparent wayward acts (as your correspondent “Lumper” delights in doing), we mast remember they are human like ourselves. They are the exponents of public opinion only. In the struggle to live wo see daily more and mote competition, and very proper advance towards the wealthy classes being compelled to pay a fairer proportion of the harden of taxation. Our weak spot U the innate desire of almost every person to die rich, or, as someone once put it, “oat npwell. ’ ftfaeanlay puts it neatly, thus; “ Because,

though he brought nothing into the world ihd could take nothing out of it, yet it wm some satisfaction to leave a good deal behind." Now, the recent death of Cardinal Manning strikea the popular imagination Very much in the fact he left but LlOo behind. In this respect he was like John Wesley, who bequeathed scarcely LIO with thomeagrefurnishiogsofhissmall house. Iha ostentation and pride of purse Is becoming more and more rampant, aea glance through Burke’s ‘Colonial Peerage’ can testify. Reformers need not lose heart; on the contrary, should remember, as in the past so in the future, the moral and intellectual work of the world has rested, and will, on the shoulders of comparative poverty. instance, John Howard, who, without wealth, reformed the prisons of Europe, No reason exists why by legitimate means wealth should not be accumulated, but the weak spot seems its distribution after death, A very large share should then certainly revert to the State, to lessen taxation and build almshouses for the less fortunate. A limit for retirement by law should also be made, say at L 50,000. What enormous mischief unscrupulous men with money have done, even in these colonies. In the commencement of a systematic system whereby the purses of plutoctacy may be lightened to the advantage of the needy, we must not be led away by the wild, sardonic bowlings of Damos, but rather be guided by the ancient aphorism : “ What I spent I had; what I saved I lost; what I gave I have.’’ The use and abuse” we accept, but do not follow. am, etc., Ao KtM ' 2 1 Dunedin, March 12.