THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 21 October 1880, Page 2

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

(Concluded.) We, as Colonists, have bean all along too sleepy. We have never tried to any , great extent to fathom the intrigues of our dishonorable rulers, who are wrongly 1 styled " honorable," and in whom we have ! too much and too often .placed implicit r confidence. For some years the working classes had every facility for acquiring i comfortable homes. Many now possess . them, but having improved their little t holding, they now feel the sharks nibbling, trying the bait before devouring " what is before them. These greedy ones ! are day by day succeeding in their efforts s to oppress the people, until they .reach • such a state of impecuniosity as to be compelled to part with their improved farms, ready to yield a return, at a merely nominal price. This seems to be the : target at which our shoddy aristocracy are aiming, and certain they are to win the 1 day unless we strain every nerve to frusI traie their plans, and save the industrial population from absolute ruin. ) It has been amply proved that the ; would be great are not the men to rule ? the Colony's destinies. Their word is like a bubble in the air, liable to break at any moment, and, like bubbles, their ! promises are never made to stand. Working men, say our moneyed friends, would never do for Parliament. Their manner and general conduct would tend to degrade the House, and bring it into content. They overlook the indisputable fact that at the meetings of the unassuming classes the proceedings are almost always orderly and the language, well-toned, whereas, the assemblies of the "higher orders" are peculiar for their total want of common decency. "You're a liar," "You'xo no gentleman," " You would no.t say so on the lovely grass," a,n4 pthgr choice expressions frequently ring through assemblies in high places, while the less highly favored can meet and discuss matters quietly, yet showing a firm determination to carry their point. If our House of Representatives were composed of the right class of men, their energies would be directed towards the development of the Colony's natural resources in every shape and form. With unassuming conscientious men without exception in the House last session, something would have been done for the advancement of the country. As it is, however, what has been accomplished 1 They have, it is true, in robbing hard-working trustworthy servants of part o,f their earnings, and altogether dismissed a number of busy bees, while the big drones flourish in the political hive. They have also imposed a pernicious property tax upon an unwilling people ; and their work ia done. Not a measure has been carried, nor an effectual word spoken for the real benefit of the Colony. Valuable time that should have been spent in providing food and clothing for suffering humanity, who have been allured to our shores by false pretences, has been thrown away in abortive tonguelashing. Thousands of willing hands could find employment in bringing to the light of day the millions of tons of coal that lie buried beneath our feet. The goldfields of both islands are immensely pregnant, and could be made to absorb multitudes, but gold-digging is almost at a standstill for want of proper legislation. The most experienced farmers tell us that wheat, oats," and barley §r@ not payable crops, and tjjat th e y are not likely to yield any fair return for time to come. Why, then, do we not use our best endeavors to ! discover what will pay, and hasten to utilise the soil in the production of remunerative commodities. Is there ■nothing worth a trial in the frozen meat question, and is flax-dressing pronounced a failure because a few small capitalists failed in the experiment! Where, too, is the wool trade with Japan, the news of which so delighted our. mutton lords I Siigay, made from beet, also, seenjs to be a staple product in other countries—why ;not in this.? Scores of industries could be advantageously land, with the application of a few ounces, of brain power well directed. The ground !i

is capable of producing innumerable com* : modities, that would prove beneficial factors in enriching the people. Yet we sleep on from year to year, leaving invention and discovery for our neighbors on the mighty continent alongside of us But surely it begins to dawn upon us that lacking energy we can never hope f or better days. If we do not exert ourselves now, we shall begin when too late. Another Parliament or two such as wo have had will place our working population in the condition of serfs, while the wealthy will toiumph at their own success. Besides the House of Representatives a scrutiny should be made of the Government offices in the Empire City. The most effectual way of setting crookecl things straight in these dens would probably be discovered in removing tho seat of Government, even for one session, as was before proposed. The ring must bebroken up ere we can dream of reform. Discharge the whole fraternity, with the. exception of one to explain the position of each department, and remodel the; whola machinery on a smaller scale im another centre. The public should have a voice in the appointment, retention, and dismissal of public servants. Au official who was prepared to make startling revelations concerning the Native Department was, the other day, presented with his walking ticket. Maybe the Colony would have benefited by the retention, for a time at anyrate, of so visea functionary. We should be made acquainted with the immediate cause of his dismissal. Under the existing system nobody knows with whom he has to do. We learn that two persons, who each enjoyed, for a season, board and lodging, at the expense of a grateful country, for some wonderful deeds,, are basking in the sunshine of tho Minister's favor. These are Europeans,, and continue to hold their positions irk direct opposition to the spirit of the? British Constitution, which sets forth that no person having been convicted of felony shall hold any office in Her Majesty's service. Local public offices, also, are too often, filled by favorites. When an office becomes vacant a crony of some," honorableMinister" is thrust upon us, without aaj? knowledge on our part of his qualifications for such office. Neither are we made, acquainted with his moral character. In appointments of this kind there is nothing to ensure even civility to the public. Government clerks, like bank boys, are noted for incivility and general overbearing conduct, because they know full well that the public may whistle so long as the " honorable Minister" is at hand to bless and to save. No community has any remedy. The occupant of every public office should be voted .to his post by the voice of the people. By this course we should have both competent and civil officers. If any complaint should ariselet it be submitted, in writing, to a public; meeting, and let such meeting appoint at committee to enquire into tho case.. Every year a meeting should be hold for-re-appointment or dismissal. Under suchi a system incompetence and overbearing; demeanour could not poßsfblv find shelterbehind the coat-tails of a Minister or any other dignitary. To effect the desired reform, the unassuming portion of the population of every centre mnst be of one mind, and resolutely oppose the return of any members who are likely to play into thp hands of the wealthy. Numbers mean strength, and surely we can outnumber the aristocrats. Let us not only "talk " reform, but hold ourselves in readiness for the struggle, and fight like free men when the proper time comes. Nothing is easier than to return men of the right stamp, if people will only hold together. Let all have fair play, however. Let the " lords" 1 nominate their men, and vote for the® to, their hearts' content, and we shall da like-, wise. But we must see that we are all at, Jerico before any respectable elector gives, his vote to an upstart; and surely such, an one can never be returned for his own cronies being hopelessly in the minority > he must beat a hasty retreat, and return to oblivion, whence he sprang. By going hand-in-hand, ultimate success is certain for the u lower classes," namely, those who strive to pay twenty shillings in the. pound, who can retire to rest sober, and who know the members of their own domestic circle, never mistaking 'other people's relatives for their own. Let us hold together as one man, and we shall return members who will work for our interests, and who will persevero in tho struggle to rescue the land of our adoption from a state of serfdom, to which it is, rapidly drifting. Demociut.. Timaru, October 18.