OUR LETTER BOX.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 30, 20 August 1887, Page 3

OUR LETTER BOX.

AN IMPATIENT ELECTOR. (SrXCUL TO THZ Busdabd.) Six, —For considerably over a couple of months; Mr Allan McDonald has held out to the electors the prospect that he was going to address them. He went to a remote part of the conetituencv, held a Meeting there, and K far that is all we know about it. Why does he not address the electors here. He says he belongs to No party, While Sir George Grey is denouncing the Government, Mr Allan McDonald comes out as their nominee. They appointed him to the Harbour Board, and he said in Wairoa that if a noOonfidence motion were brought forward his vote against the Government would depend upon the policy of the sorer. What rot f He is the Government man, and if he has any political brinciples at all, let us hear them, dr let him take a back seat.—Yours, etc., „ EtECtOB. [We believe Mr McDonald will address the electors in about a week’s time —Ku. Standabd.J

MB, GRAHAM AND CIVIL SERVICE BEFOBM.

"To tBZ ECHOS.! Siß.—Mr Graham may be a heaven* born genius on the subject of civil service reform in his own opinion, but if he imagines that a Civil Service Board will remedy matters he is vastly mistaken. Ministerial patronage and interference is bad, but may the Lord protect us from the kind mercies of a Board composed of the heads of departments. They are too frequently '* block-heads," and would be far worse masters to serve as a Board than individually. If Mr Graham really wants to reduce the cost of the civil service, let him agitate for a reduction of the salaries drawn by the “ heads,” who are continually getting their screws increased, whilst we of the poor rank and file are ground down to the narrowest limit. As a civil servant of 13 years experience I .know something about the matter, and would certainly protest against being bullied by a Board of permanent “ heads.” Reduce the big bugs, and let the underpaid officers have a chance to live. I daren’t say what department I am in, for it is ruinous for us to write to the papers, but all the same I have risked this little remonstrance, and trust my special “head” in Wellington won’t try and ' fossick me out.—l am, etc., One of the Rank and Fide.

A CAPTIOUS CRITIC.

[TO THZ EmTOB.] Six,— l am sorry you do not advocate a strong Protection policy, and insist upon the candidates declaring their views on this great question. All the Liberal candidates are supporting heavy protectionist duties being enforced, and I, in common with many others, am surprised that you should not speak out in favour of Protection. Then, as to Land Nationalisation, . another plank in the Liberal platform, you ignore that also, and yet you say you are a Liberal. I must say Ido not like the policy of the Standard at All.—Yours, etc., A Henby Geobgeite. [Our correspondent is outspoken i we"will be the same. We do not advocate a prohibitory protectionist tariff simply because we believe the tariff is high enough already. Further increase of the tariff would mean, as Protection always has meant, the enriching of the few at the expense of the many. Our correspondent says he is a “ Henry Georgette." He cannot have studied the works of that author very carefully or he would see that George is a Freetrader. As for Land Nationalisation, we will have none of it—we believe firmly in freeholds. Liberals do not all support Land Nationalisation by any means. We believe it is a well-meaning, but utterly harmful, fad, and to that opinion we shall stick. As to our correspondent’s opinion of the Standard, we don’t care " a continental cuss”; if he doesn't like its policy, he can do the other thing.— 80. Standabd.j