THE PREMISE'S SPEECH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7227, 29 April 1884, Page 5

THE PREMISE'S SPEECH.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The result of Major Atkinson's meeting is conclusive as to the opinion of the inhabitants of Christchurch on the policy of his Ministry. I am warranted in saying so from the almost unanimous vote passed by the meeting. Had there been any persons present who believed in the Atkinson Ministry, they either had not the courage of their opinions, or they must have felt compelled to agree with the resolution in consequence of tho way in which the Premier so ably evaded giving the slightest idea of what his Ministry's policy was; and this seems to have been the case, judging from the "damning with faint praise " article of your contemporary the Press in this morning's isbuo. By-tho-bye, the Press has placed Major Atkinson in a ver- -T>i,.nsant category, when it says that Lv • im..,..U;-.:1 inferior repartee with a lot of noboii:os/'' to whom it is a distinction " to have received even a snub from tho Premier." So, Sir,' the meeting, one of the largest ever assembled in ChrJßtchurch, were a lot of nobodies! And the Major, too, seemed of that opinion, only he called them "loafers." I venture to say that among those present at the meeting, there were a large proportion of the very men whom Major Atkinson blamed for neglecting to do their duty, and on whom he—justly, I admit—laid the blame of returning such men as himself to be their representatives in Parliament. I trust the working men (the nobodies, aa the Press calls them) will remember the very useful lesson Major Atkinson has taught them, and that, when the proper time comes, they will use the power, which he admits they possess, and elect a Parliament which will effectually prevent the return of any

one who will aid the party, that is, the moniod oligarchy, whoso representative Major Atkinson i"» to . o . ver . .T m , l ' ido rough-shod over the industrial class—a party whoso object is to secure for themselves the land' of tho Colony, who know full well that, having the monopoly of tho land, they can compel the rest of tho people to' bow their heads to thorn, and who in their hearts say, " Wo nlono are the persons who arc fit to rule and guide tho people." ' . ~ . , Tho answers Major Atkinson gave to tho important questions anent the progressive Laud tax, local govormuout, and immigration, must prove that tho present Government are determined to follow out their scheme of backing up the rings of the laud holders and money-lending oligarchy, who are living in luxury on tho hard earnings of tho farmers and working classes. That this is so is proved by the largo profits which the Banks and Loan Companies are able to divide. Those profits must come from tho money used by farmers and others, who, notwithstanding that they pay only a nominal 8 or 10 per cent, are tho only source from which these large profits can be derived. In fact, all tho profit, save a very bare subsistence for the workers, goes as rent to the landholder, not to tho man who holds the. freehold; for we well know that ninety-nine hundredths of every freehold property are mortgaged to some of tho ring, and that an enormous sum is annually sent out of tho country to pay interest to these mortgagees. Now every word which fell frsm the Premier tended to show that his great object is to foster the system which I believe is the cause of our present depression. Ho will not abolish the Property tax in favour of a Land tax, because this would compel landholders (mortgagees) to open up the land at its real value. He will not cease imniigration, because he wants to reduce the price of wages and enable the large landholders to get large profits. He will not give true local government, because that would tend to destroy Government patronage. He will not assent to placing the railways under independent Boards, because that would render them free from the influence he has used them for—buying votes to support a tyrannical Government.—l am, &c, FRANK GUINNESS. " TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Your account of Major Atkinson's reception in Christchurch re-called vividly to my mind a bull fight which I witnessed years ago in Cuba. The poor bull was worried, and pricked with spears, and had fireworks darted into his flanks, and chased the picadores round the ring, and tossed the horses, and at last, standing panting, bleeding, and snorting in the middle of the ring, received the happy despatch from the sword of the graceful matador. Major Atkinson played to perfection the part of the bull on Saturday night. He was so teased and goaded and screamed at, and hooted and hissed, that he must have longed for the advent of the matador to give him the final blow. . This, however, is deferred until the meeting of Parliament, when he and his companions will be put out of their misery, let us hope, with no further refinements of cruelty. It would hardly be fair to accept the Major's utterances, under torture, as genuine, or I would have directed attention to his advice to those who were dissatisfied with the turn of affairs in New Zealand—"to quit the country as speedily as possible." The poor bull in the arena would, if he had had a voice, have given a similar recommendation to his persecutors. The Major quite equalled the bull in his obstinacy, for he stuck to his increased com tax as if his political life depended upon it. He exhibited also considerable powers of evasion, escaping from his questioners with great tact, and attacking them in the flank and rear when they gave him the slightest opportunity. There has seldom been witnessed such sport in Christchurch. It is open, however, to doubt whether thi3 kind of sport is not played out in these days, and must be classed with bull fighting, bear baiting, badger drawing, and other kindred amusements of the good old times. Screaming, hooting, and hissing are effective weapons when no others are handy, but surely, on this occasion, Canterbury could well have afforded to listen in silence to the arguments and explanations of the Premier. It was, as I said, many years ago that I was present at a bull fight, and I had no wish to go again. I was disgusted with the treatment of the bull. Had I been at the Premier's baiting on Saturday, I should, I feel, have been equally disgusted with the unfair treatment' which he received. —I am, &c, E. M. CLISSOLD. Christchurch, April 28.