"THE MAN FROM KINGSLAND."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9628, 28 September 1894, Page 4

"THE MAN FROM KINGSLAND."

Our article o£ yesterday on the reference made in the House to a communication from a resident in Auckland that he was about to leave the colony owing to the constant interference with trade, and the perpetual threatening of commerce, naturally has attracted much attention to the incident. It is always unpleasant for a journalist to dwell on such a subject. It is always more congenial to him to be optimistic than pessimistic. Probably we should not have said anything about this case if it had come to our knowledge otherwise than through the House of Representatives. But when it is brought up prominently there, and is dwelt upon bitterly and unfairly by the Premier, it cannot be hidden. We may say that Mr. Seddon is all wrong in his surmises. He thinks that the departing settler has made money here in prosperous times, and is wanting to get away "to escape his fair share of taxation." That is quite a mistake. The gentleman came here a few years ago, bringing with him a family whom he intended to establish here, and also not less than £30,000, which was to be devoted to their establish The owner of this amount of capital is quite prepared to pay his " fair share of taxation," but he cannot see any safety in the State Socialism of Mr. Seddon and Mr. Reeves. He has not been in the least excited by Coolgardie. and has no intention of going there. It this were merely a solitary instance, it would not be of very great importance, but it is only a specimen. Every day we hear of instances of manufacturers contracting their businesses and countermanding orders sent home for machinery.