FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS TO OTTAWA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11368, 10 May 1900, Page 3

FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS TO OTTAWA.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir—l am glad to noto that your correspondent, Mr. J. Pcckover, has taken up the above subject in your issue of May 8. Ut course, wo must fool deep sympathy with those, v.ho suffer such losses, but suppose many of the other States were to meet with similar lossos, which they are liable to at any moment, or there may be such loss in many other places, are wo to bo expected to plank down our £5000 to each from our Government chest? Why not, I ask, if it is dono in tho present case? I consider it is a most unconstitutional act sending round to members, as the Premier has done, for their private opinions (because he knows he has such a strong following), instead of laying tho matter boforo tho House when it meets, when all the pros and cons, could bo brought out and the vote taken. If such kind of legislation is to lie undertaken during the recess, there is no knowing what it may load to, and members may find out when too lato that they have little or no funds to vote. We havo gone quite as far as wo aro justified in what wo havo done in men and money for South Africa. That will make a big hole in our revenue, and it all must mean more taxation, which I am sure our colony has enough of already. I hope, sir, you will allow the matter of such votes as this £5000 (and others to follow, 1 believe) to be ventilated in your valuable paper, and I believe very strong feelings will be elicited against such a manner of voting away oven what may bo called a surplus by our Premier. I have no doubt if private sympathy had been asked for in the above deplorable loss, it would havo been responded to, although people havo had pretty heavy calls on their liberality lately. In conclusion, I do hope a strong protest will bo got up against sending away such sums of money without a vote of Parliament taken in a constitutional manner. The plan now being carriod out is nothing less than fancy .legislation, and should he put down by all right-minded persons —I am, etc., Hehvood Crispe. Mauku.