ON THE TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2524, 4 February 1869, Page 3

ON THE TOPICS OF THE DAY.

TO THIS EDITOK OF TUB LYTTELTON TIMES. Sir,—Some no doubt would-be rising politician, or perhaps some self-dubbed great financier, writing in the Press of a recent date, and whosigns himself" Anti-Humbug," scouts the idea of open Executives, but without giving any reason for his opposition; it may suit his purpose to do so, perhaps he is looking out for office, as under the present system the froth frequently comes to the top, • and it is a very difficult matter to find out, in botli General and Provincial Executives, who are really the ruling minds of the colony. I am a Conservative, and opposed to changes of any kind; besides, Executives are supposed to act unanimously, and it would never do to let the public pry into the secret squabbles which, I believe, are constantly going on. Your correspondent "A" (confound the fellow, he is always writing, why don't you put him in the summary for Europe?) says we are an infant democracy. I deny it, but agree with him that the best preservation of honesty and purity is publicity. "lis true we have 110 foreign policy, and that the whole duty of an Executive (bar the Maori war) should be confined to the good government of the people and the development of our resources. Economics, in the opinion of some, should supersede the word politics, but where would such a state of things end, if the Councils of the General and Provincial Governments were as open and public as those of the Municipality of Christchurch, or the Avon Road Board. Hang it, Sir, it would lower the position and standing of Ministers of the Crown, and should be prevented at all hazards, You must therefore pardon me if I consider that you have been injudicious in broaching such a subject. lam more disposed to agree with the policy of the Stafford Government with regard to the future mangement of the Press than I was before reading your recent ill-judged article upon open Executives. Are not our very watch dogs registered at a cost of 10s each? Why should newspapers be excepted? Many a calf will be saved exposure through The Registration Act.

The next mad thing we Bliall find you advocating is an income tax, to pay for war expenditure. If you do so, I give you fair notice I shall cease to take in your weekly paper. The idea is preposterous, that we who are unionists and have most of us comfortable fixed incomes should be taxed like we are by the Iload Boards at. so much in the £ to pay for a war which we are assured is all but ended. What did many of us leave England for but to be rid of the tax collector? No, let war expenditure come out

-harder upon a rich man than it upon a poor one. .•'mwrfsHpojJii Your obedient servant, 'i-ifi •-:<) PILGRIM)"