MR ROLLESTON CRITIKIESED.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1489, 6 April 1886, Page 2

MR ROLLESTON CRITIKIESED.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —As I was unable to attend Mr Rolleaton’s meeting at Temuka you may be sure I was anxious to get your paper, so as to read and digest bis speech in a quiet, workmanlike manner, and, after n careful perusal of it, I came to the conclusion that the speech differed from the head of Mrs Tobnoggin’s son. This son used to attend school at Temuka, but the rest of the scholars annoyed the poor lad by calling him Bighead. At last the poor fellow could stand it no longer, so one day he came home crying to his mother because of his nickname. Ris mother pacified the lad by saying, “Never min'd, my son, there’s nothing it.” But in Mr Rolleston’s speech there is something, and that is plenty of abuse of the present Ministry, or rather of his kite noir, Sir Julius Yogel. But it is in answering the questions put to him that our member outshines himself. I think he answered everyone in such a clear, lucid, able, and straightforward manner that he must have astonished himself. Just fancy a man who has been legislator for this country for the past 25 years—a man who can, or is supposed to be able to, talk Greek and Latin to his flocus and herds—shuffling out of nearly every question put to him the way be did. I was very glad Mr Twomey tried to get his opinion on the financial state of the country, because it is, or ought to be, one of the main questions, and one that we ought to get at the bottom of (even if Mr Rolleston cannot answer it), that is : Is New Zealand financial!}' going ahead, standing still, or going back. 1 think moat private individuals try to study every year whether they have improved their financial position or not, and a great many of us are, like Mr Twomey, anxious to know whether the State has done so or not. Some people think that the Government has to borrow to pay interest on former loans, yet here is a simple question that our M e n}ber cannot, or will not, answer. He says in answer, “ The country has no right to pay interest out of loans, but if it did do so it is very serious.” Then regarding this £4,000,000 ef interest that has to be sent out of the colony every year. A great many of us, I think, would be glad to know if it, or a portion of it, is not taken out of future loans. Where is it to come from 1 If our imports swallow up our exports it can’t come from that source without we stop the importation of al' luxuries into the colony, and I don’t think we are prepared to accept that. Then, if for the future our azpoits still swallow up our imports, where are we to get the money to pay the outside creditor except it is out of future losns 1 I cmnot see, and I am very glad that Mr Twomey asked, and am equally disgusted with our member that he could not, or would not, answer il, With regard to the Bank Scheme, 1 think Mr Twomey must have looked very small when Mr ftollestou told him be was not familiar with the details of it, and, therefore, could express no opinion bn it! I thought every legislator would have tried to work out this schema that has been before the public so lung, and see whether there was any good in it or not, For myself, in my own lin-pol fashion, I haye thought it over, and although X am not a believer in it at present, yet I do not think it is a scheme that should be shoved aside nod cast into the wastepsper basket, and I have

no doubt if it could be properly discussed improvements would bi seen which would make it work properly, and if that could be done itjwould undoubtedly be a measure of benefit to the whole country, barring the pawn shops. But it seems our bon. member thinks there is no good grata in it, and therefore that it is pot worth bothering with, and the way lie shuffled in answering most of the questions makes me wish for the day to come when tbs Temukaites will open their eyes and discover that their idol is only made of clay—and very inferior clay at that* I also beard of the hooting and yelling performance ; and with regard to the clique who indulge in that luxury, I hope that, now they are cool,* they are as ashamed of themselves as lam of them. It is only a fool, or an idiot, who answers an argument in that kind of language; and, although I rather enjoy being hooted when I get on the platform, still I do not like to see it done to others, who may be more nervous than myself, as by that means anyone may be prevented from obtaining what may be valuable information and our member assisted to do the shuffling business to perfection. But one part of the performance at the meeting 1 should liked to have witnessed—and that was the Yorkshire member and the Yorkshire butcher rubbing noses. I am aware that our hoo. member was Native Minister for a few days, and consequently had learned the performance from competent teachers, but when L hear of our respected butcher changing his coat because the hpnv inem* her and he are towniesj it mikes me think that the old saying is true “That a Yorkshire bight is • hard, but barely honest,” or that the world is coming to an end m 1886.—1 am, etc., Mattvais Jambon.