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Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10219, 13 December 1893, Page 4

We shall not attempt to convince our morning contemporary that the change in the incidence of taxation has been an advantage to the small farmers, nor to satisfy Mr Scobie Mackenzie that the Pomabaka purchase was a perfectly honourable transaction. These questions were really settled at the polls a fortnight ago, and if wo reproduced every line of the mass of evidence that has been published iu our columns during the past two or three months, we could show nothing more convincing than the emphatic verdict of the electors. This being the case we are not inclined to engage in an unprofitable controversy with the representatives of a party that is smarting under an overwhelming defeat. We must, however, point out to Mr Scobie Mackenzie that the somewhat vulgar imputations he has levelled against Mr John Douglas do not prove that we are “ dishonest,” or that the Minister for Lands has been guilty of any impropriety. We know nothing of Mr Douglas nor of his negotiations with the Lands Department, and wo decline to be drawn into a quarrel between, that’ gentleman and the rejected candidate for Waihemo. But if Mr Scobie Mackenzie or our morning contemporary can suggest any means by which our land policy or our taxation, policy can be improved we shall be very glad to consider their proposals. Now is the time for burying party animosities, and for the vigorous prosecution of necessary reforms. Nothing can be gained by continuing a strife that can only intensify disagreement.