MR STEVENS, M.H.R,

Otago Witness, Issue 929, 18 September 1869, Page 11

MR STEVENS, M.H.R,

(LytttUm Timi-Jt.)

Wo unctorstand that tho following letter, address*! to Mr Stovcnn, is la circulation for •iguatur* in tho Solwyn diotriofc .— Sir— Wo, tho undersigned landed proprietor* in tho talvryn ilUtf iot, of which you aro tho roprewntativo in tho General Assam'!?, bog to oxpras our unqualified disapproval of yoor nnwiso and nnjnufe policy towards yonr constituent*, in having In tao l*to sowfoa, opposod tho pnwoDt Ministry in their land•bio endeavour to impot* a t*x on all corosls imported into tho colony ot Now Zosland. Tho roMons of our coming to this unfavourable opinion of your «U»w*rdship In this particular, *w briefly as follows :— Tlutt from tho aUtiitios recently published by tho Provincial Government, you muit bo folly awaro that lb« district yon wnwsont is th* most oxtonsiw »nd important agrieuUU' r*l district fa C»otei*ury, ooMeqnmtlgr i* vu your imperative duty to hay« mods uxj wwritios for tho fatara welfare of your oonstituonts.

That the neighbburiag- colonies o^Aus. tralia, as well as South America,- have a heavy tax on all imporbecLcoreals; whereas they, on the other, hand, can send their surplus grain into this country in any quantity, free , from duty, at a profitable 'price. , That the exorbitant wages of this country, owing to the i small 'population, precludes tho possibility of our ever being able to compete t with our neighbours, as they can afford to dispose of their produce for less than what it actually costs us to grow it; therefore it must be apparent to the .meanest capacity that the farmers of. Canterbury are eventually destined to utter ruin and insolvency, particularly when they take 'into consideration the heavy taxation they may shorty expect to be levied to meet the enormous expenses attending the Maori war, together with the payment of ' the interest oi the heavy loans and liabilities already (and still to be) incurred. That as our remedy is a very simple, but painful one, we regret extremely (as a duty we owe ourselves) to be compelled to request that you will immediately tender the resign nation of your seat in the General Assembly, to enable us to select a proper person to represent us, who will prove himself more de« serving of our confidence, as we consider you have signally failed in protecting the interests and' welfare of your influential and numerous constituents during the late session of the General Assembly.