An Explanation.

Southland Times, Issue 4941, 17 May 1884, Page 3

An Explanation.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,— Part of your comments upon my address at Mataura lead me to think that you did not quite catch the drift of my remarks as to farmers, and those who lend them money. I used these words, " The consequence is that the -agricultural population of India— the richest country m tbe world, I suppose— have sunk into a hopeless state of "indebtedness, and their lands, which, under the East India Company were inalienably vested m the family, are fast passing away from them into possession of a despicable race of money-lenders, and the brave, and formerly loyal agriculturists are learning to hate the justice (?) of the British rule, and long for a change." Nothing was further from my mind than to say that the people of this country are n such a position, or to attribute to the lenders here anything but the most ho nor able and straightforward dealing. My words were intended as a warning of what may happen, if borrowing and paying too high a rate of interest continue.— l am, &£ F. W. Mackenzie. 15th May, 1884.