THE Marlborough Express.

Marlborough Express, Volume XIII, Issue 1020, 27 April 1878, Page 5

THE Marlborough Express.

" Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argne freely according to conscience, above all other liberties — Mn/roK. SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1878. Mr Satxnders' speech at Kaikoura, published in another column — and which we are glad to see met with such approval as encourages him to contest the Cheviot seat— shows in contradistinction to Sir 3. 0. Wilson, the exact position which parties will at once assume. With this exception however that Sir.J. 0. Wilson exhibits in the most open manner the extreme Conservative horror for Liberal doctrines, and a design for building up an aristocracy at the expense of the People which more astute politicians of his party would try to conceal. Mr Satjnders on the other hand, while showing that he is determined to assist in checking this attempt, exhibits no desire to shackle legitimate ambition, but merely says in effect : " Your advantages must be maintained at your own expense ; the present state of things cannot be permitted to continue. " It will be seen from the following quotations from his speech that he is not in favour of a general tax on Land for Public Works, but takesthe view ennunciated ' by ourselves in a recent article. Further reference will show that he is in accord with the Liberal doctrines we have always . been promulgating, and that he is a fitting opponent to the party whose sole aim has been to acquire all the country, while compelling the industrial classes to improve it for them. He 3ays : —

"Customs revenues could only properly be to purposes in which rich and poor were applied interested, such as education, hospitals, equally charitable aid, and necessary government expenses, leaving the land itself to pay for the outlay which added to its value. He thought a land tax, to which all owners of land contributed in proportion to the quantity and value of their land, was a fair tax for public works, either past or prospective, and all parties seemed now to admit its necessity. But to be jnst, it must be localised so that districts like the Cheviot, which have as yet received little pr no benefit from railways, should either be exempted from the tax, or have the proceeds of it spent in public works from which they did derive a benefit."

— When Major Atkinson and his party proposed a general Land Tax, they little imagined that they would be confronted with such arguments as these. Knowing little of political science themselves, as their administration has proved^ they ignorantly

propound a scheme wliich has arrayed all the talent of the country against them. We have frequently cautioned what may be called the Conservative party for want of a more suitable name, not to create a feeling of revenge in the people by futile opposition, or as Sir George Grey put it, array the Future against the Past, and we instanced the stern feelings of hostility and revenge into which Victorian parties were rapidly drifting. Mr Saunders is equally explicit and shows the danger' of opposition to reasonable reforms thus : —

"History shewed them that such times were always times of danger, and the greater the injustice that had brought about the change, the greater was the danger that the change would go too far, aud be violent and revengeful. At such a time he thought he might say, without conceit, that moderation and a strict regard to justice could be more effectually advocated by one who had always opposed class legislation, than by anyone who was even suspected of having promoted it." — With the latter part of this extract we cordially agree, anticipating great difficulties from the extreme views which are certain to be promulgated by would-be candidates in the Liberal interest. We have great faith in the sound sense of the people, and in the political training which many of them have received in other colonies and places in almost every branch of political science. Neither do we expect to see a rabid Liberal reaction against past mis-rule ; but hope instead to see a quiet resolve to do right in future, without revenge for the past. We most heartily congratulate our neighbors at Cheviot in being able to. secure the candidature of such a man as Mr Saunders, and trust when the good time comes to see many such take the field in the Liberal interest, and by firmness and moderation assist Sir George Grey in putting tlie affairs of the colony in such a position that its legislation can be no longer directed to making the rich man richer, and the poor, poorer still. To return him, however, for such a constituency as*Cheviot will require the utmost exertion of all that have the interests of the Colony at heart ; those who do not wish to assist in raising up amongst us a race of petty tyrants like the English and Irish landlords. It is to be hoped that they will remember that our legislation has already gone a considerable distance in this direction ; that the. estates are already secured ; that thirteen millions of pounds have already been spent in improving them; which they look upon the People to pay ; and that many of their proprietors are already absentees, living on the wealth produced in New Zealand, without paying one shilling of Taxation. We would recommend our readers to study Sir George Grey's speech which appeared in our last issue, whereby the length the Conservative party wished to go is shown by the exposition of the voting powers given in the Counties Act. By it up to 45 votes were given to one person in the election of members, or in proportion to Property, and to expend' for its benefit, among other things— wh'at ? Why the subsidies taken from the Customs duties, or in otlier words out of the pockets of the general community ! Things could not well be much worse than this, and Sir George was right in saying that no European sovereign dare do it. The whole history of the Atkinson regime is pregnant with proof that the time has come for change. We desire to see nothing radical or revolutionary, but we must unhesitatingly insist that Sir George Grey's programme is necessary in the present state of the country, and that nothing else will satisfy the cravings for reform. On the same ground we strongly advocate the return of Mr Saunders, and sincerely hope that the Liberal party in Cheviot will leave no stone unturned to secure so desirable an object. That the Land Tax will be imposed there can be' no doubt, and we hope that the people of that district will aid in obtaining Railway Extension between Canterbury and the North by returning a member pledged to support progress in spite of the Opposition and petty schemes of Sir J. C. Wilson and his friends, who as we apprehend merely look upon the People as tools and appendages to give additional value to their properties, and over whom they consider themselves born to rule.

A mekting of footballists is called for 7 p.m this evening at the Grosvenor Hotel. Don Juan, the winner of the Steeplechase at Auckland was ridden by Mr M'lvor. The Napier arrived here at 1 p.m. on Thursday, steamed to the Ferry at midnight, and left there at 11 p.m. yesterday for Wellington. Passengers inwards seven, outwards six. She may be expected oa Sunday afternoon, and leaves again on Monday at mid-day. Wakamarina.— Our own correspondent at Havelock sent the following telegram at 1.20 p.m. yesterday -Friday) : — " James Mortimer, • with three others, have applied for a prospecting area about three miles from the track, near Mountain Camp. Good prospects obtained." Mr Andrews, late of tbe Miller's Flat Schools, Otago, who was lately appointed third master to the Blenheim Borough Schools, arrived here on Thursday and at once commenced his duties. As Mr Johnston the second master left on the previous day, it is to he hoped that the staff will be increased to its full strength as , soon as possible. : A story has been current all the week about some boys having found gold in the Vernon range on the south side of the plain, . about, opposite Mr C. Redwood's stockyard. It is said that they have been getting gold there

for some months past, and that extravagant ' offers have been made to induce them to disclose ■• the exact spot, but without avail. On Monday last a large party went in search of the place, but were unsuccessful. Some years ago Dr Hector examined the range in question, and stated that there was no likelihood of any gold being found in that locality. At present the story is greatly doubted. Wakamarina. — A trustworthy person who visited the diggings on Saturday last informs us he learnt from three or four parties that they are on payable gold in 13 feet sinking, and he was asked as a favor to telegraph on his return to certain parties to come at once and take up ground. The names of those on gold are Mulcahay, Aliern, Leahy and the Darkie. One grain to the dish has been obtained. Bank op New Zealand. — Mr Hull the Manager of the Blenheim branch of the Bank informs us that he received a telegram yesterday informing him that at the half-yearly meeting held on Thursday a dividend and bonus was. declared as usual equal to 15 per cent ; L2s,ooowasadcledj,tothe reserve fund and LSOOO brought forward to next account. B. V. E. B.— The Secretary of the Brigade has. handed us the following note for publication wliich has heen received by him :— "Sir,— Bearing in remembrance the valuable services of your Brigade at our respective houses on the night of Monday Ist April, we have the honor to enclose cheques to the amount of L2 which please accept s aa slight recognition of the same.— We have, &c, A Rogers, C. Griffiths." We wish to " set right " our Picton contemporary on one point referred to yesterday. Wee do not regard him as "au opponent " by any means. There cannot possibly be competition between our journal and his. By the way while we are about it we may as well mention that although a gentleman claimed and occupied a seat at the reporters' table as the representative ofthe Press, there is not even any mention of the meeting in his paper. Mr. Joseph Ward, one of the large runholders of Marlborough, intimated at Sir George Grey's meeting at Blenheim last Saturday evening, that he was prepared to contest the seat for the Wairau district when the opportunity came round. Mr Ward's politics areof an old-fashioned class, and as he is a most determined supporter of State aid being given to denominational schools, he will have little chance of success, especially as Mr Seymour, the ! present member, has fa'Jen into great disrepute with his constituents through having supported such aid last, session, and Mr Henderson, who so nearly carried the seat before in the liberal interest, is coming forward again when the time may come. — Post, April 22. A PARTr of excursionists went over by the Napier to Blenheim for a.shooting excursion during the Easter holidays. They returned last evening, and it appeared that they must have met with good sport, for each man carried at least one brace of ducks. This rather surprised some nf the excursionists, as they were aware that others of the party had been lessf.rtnnate than themselves, in fact that they had shot nothing at all. Yet these gentlemen carried their feathered spoils as proudly as the rest. Another curious circumstance was noted. When the Napier started from Blenheim Captain Fisk had a large quantity of game, which he was bringing over to Wellington for sale. . But when the steamer reached Wellington Captain Fisk declared he had none left to sell. How was this ? And so those truly deep and knowing men put this and that together and instituted a course of insidious pumping, which elicited the fact that Captain Fisk had fouud good customers for his game onboard the steamer herself. — Post.