THE LATE ELECTION.

Inangahua Times, Volume v, Issue 40, 7 June 1878, Page 2

THE LATE ELECTION.

TO XiyP, KPITOB OF THE TIMES. Sir,— Of all that las boon said about tho lato oloction tboro is nothing so much calls for roirmrVf in niy onini.on, «a whnt you thought propor to say about jny 4 ticket, 1 and though it jnay bo thought out of place to rofor back to what might bo said during tho beat of a contest. Still % tbiuk a fuller discussion of tho quootion raised is much needed ; and I liavo chosen to await this timo in ordor that tho subject; might bo considered on its merits, frco from parly rancours. You said, 44 As to the working man as ho exists in Mr Bnrrowman's imagination, it is n.oro bunkum. Wo arp nil working I ißon in this country ; the raain difforcnoo being that some hnvo been fortuna'o enough to becomo a littlo riohor than (heir perhaps loss frugal loss industrious, or less intclhgcutnoighbours." Now, although X question very much whothor intelligence industry, nnd frugality, play such a part in making pooplo rich as you would havo us boliovc. Yet this i,9 not tho mntt;or I v^ish to doal with at present ; it is your statement that " we aro nil working mon in this country," which I wish to oontvadiet. Sir, I hnvo hoard a poor say tho snmo of tho Old Country, and it is no more truo hero than nt Homo. When we analyse tho workers thoy rosolvo into two olnssoB ; thoso who produce, nnd those who distribute; lu the firnt-clafls wo hnvo , the porkers propor, t\e,, tillers, diggers, tradesmen, and. all those who do manunl toil for n livinp. In the seeond-clnss wo have tho merchants, or buyers and sol* lors, Iho profqssions. &y. ; nnd, as a rule, even in this country, it is those of the b\ttor class who hocomo rich, and who discard mnnunl labor as unprofitable. Probably you will sny, 4> Nobody.of common spnso discards rannnd iabor hero, tho laboror is as much respooted herii ns the more-hunt or squatter." Ah ! Sir. these nre tho fine phrines which nro flaunted whonevor this question nrisos. Tint nro they tri'o in our social system P Do you shako tho hand of a man in I q«menred fustians is warmlv ns you, do that of him in broadcloth P-. Is fbo hat lifted ns freely to tho sorrnnt girl as to hor mistress P., No, Sir, simple and rustic as our colonial manners ore, snobbery U mixed, in our daily lives. We court and ape the rich in dross and habits. Wo commit the • lawinaking and, government to the mprchnnt or mpnied, class, not beoauso thoy nro wisor or betfor men ; but because wo bftvo not learned, or aro always forgetting that lnbor is tho first principle of nntional, wealth. And. a people to bo prosperous and.ljappy must recognise tho duty of oncb doing his share of the necessary toil. Romo foil from its greatness by ils peoplo discarding labor, nnd leaving that to their nlavos: An 1 I demur Sir, to your calling my ' ticket V bunkum,. It was an honest endeavor to hn^e lnbor assort its rights to havo a direct infjuencp on tho lnw-mnki')g of iho country. \\'<j havo on ovory hand the votaries of onpital ni? roprosontntives pleading for it, watching over it nnd nurs< ing it, As witness Donald, Koid's speech. But who aro thoy who havo sot thoras«lvos to fostor nnd protect tho intorost of labor P, Nono yet in Now Zoalaud I. fpar. As an ex run pi o of tho prevailing and fushionablo manner in which the intorests of lnbor is looked at. I mny mention that at a public mooting hero in Groymouth during tho contest, a respoctod citizpn of Beef'' ton said about my enndidaturo thnt he had somo interest in tho country, nnd ho wovild like to sco a gentleman returned, not ono who hud no moans or stako in the country. Without drawing this furthor I think I hnvo shown good roasons for my position, and will not bo afraid to- take tho same stand again ; nnd I know with better ■ results. Apologising for tho length T havo gone, I request you will givo it a placo ia your ODiunins. Yours truly, John Bahuowman. Groymonlh, Juno 3rd, 1878.