The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 1889. MR BUXTON’S SPEECH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1904, 15 June 1889, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 1889. MR BUXTON’S SPEECH.

“ Ton never had a member who feared you lesa or respected you more,” were the bold, fearless, telling words in which Mr Buxton conveyed to his constituents an idea of the independence of the spirit by which he was actuated. In these words there is a ring of sterling honesty, with which, we regret to say, we are seldom made acquainted in politics. They are the words of a man who has no aie to grind, and who does not want to remain in political life longer than he retain the confidence of the people. We do not agree with Mr Buxton as regards his estimate of the Land Act. On the contrary, we think that Act was retrogressive, because it destroyed the principle of perpetual-leasing. It is true that perpetual-leasing has flourished under it, but that was in spite of those who framed it. Under previous enactments a perpetual leaseholder could not turn his holding into a freehold, but this , Act enabled him to do so, and thus the principle of leasing was destroyed (and the tenure made to embrace more I or ihe cleferred-paymeiit principle.

The previous Government had not beeu selling the land ; they had been leasing it as hard as they could. In consequence of this the land fund got very low, and the present Government thought to replenish it by selling the land. Thinking the perpetual leaseholders would at once jump at it, they gave them the opportunity of buying their holdings, so as to got money; but the plot failed—the people stuck to their leases; the vast majority of new settlers took new leases, with the result that the land fund shows a deficit of £II,OOO, and is in a worse state that ever.

With regard to the £IO,OOO which the Government proposed to allocate for the purpose of settling laborers on the land, the applause with which the explanation of his action was received showed that the meeting was in thorough sympathy with him. He told them he attended every caucus and deputation to forward the movement, but that, after having worked hard for it, it was lost by one yote. Mr Buxton is ready to back up “ the cause that lacks assistance,” and forward the interests of the poor and lowly. The warning he gave the people with regard to the reduction of the number of members and the proposed “Hare system’’ ought not to be forgotten. He said that if the Conservatives could reduce the number of members only wealthy men could get; into Parliament; that when they found themselves in a majority they would take away the power to vote from men who had no property, and henceforth govern the country as they liked. Mr Buxton has no doubt mixed with men who had talked this over, and, therefore, is not speaking without authority. The fact is, we know of our knowledge that this very thing has been well canvassed sub rosa, and, j in addition to this, they intend to have j elections only every five years instead of three years, as at present. This was discussed in Parliament either last session or the session before. The result of having elections only once every five years would be that the people would lose all interest in politics, and that the members could do as they liked, Mr Buxton threw new light on the rules of procedure affair. He told us that a deputation of the Opposition waited on the Premier and offered to pass certain rules, provided objectionable ones were expunged. The Premier refused; he imperiously told them that he would have all or none, and consequently he got none. This shows the Premier was as much at fault as the Opposition. On the whole, we have to congratulate Mr Buxton on his speech. He has proved himself an observant, painstaking member, and a thorough Liberal to the heart’s core.

DEFRAUDING THE REVENUE. Hali'-a-million of money, we are informed is the little sum by which the large landowners of Hawkes Bay had under-valued their land at. That is just what we might expect from the twelve apostles, their Maori ehieftainess “ Alice,” and the ring of Hawkes Bay land-grabbers. Half-a-million of money is the increase made in their valuations now, and henceforth they will have to contribute to the revenue over £2OOO a year more than they have been accustomed to. Hitherto they had been defrauding the revenue of this sum. Their very virtuous and highly-respectable representatives, Messrs Ormond, Eussell, and Tanner, were amongst the loudest in their demands for retrenchment. They were amongst those who turned up the white of their eyes, and groaned most virtuously in holy horror at Mr Ballance’s immorality in spending a few pounds in settling the unemployed on the waste land of the colony, while they and their representatives were defrauding the revenue of over £2OOO a year. Hawkes Bay is entirely a sheep-farming country, and the land is held there in immense areas. The land is so rich that it will not grow wheat, and consequently it is entirely devoted to sheep and cattle; and it is these rich, highly-respectable, honorable men who have been defrauding the revenue. It is the same all over the colony. The large landowners are monstrously under-valued. A few years ago Mr Stubbs exposed the trick the managers of the Levels Estate played, by which they reduced their valuation by £20,000. In the same way trickery, schemery, and chicanery is going on all over the colony, and it is time it was exposed. Poor farmers and hard-working people are paying the tax these people ought to be paying. Take the Levels Estate, for instance. On that estate there is room for probably over 300 or 400 farmers. If it were cut up in that way there would be 800 or 400 houses on it, and these houses, with other improvements, would be valued at £2OO or £3OO each. This would add to its present property-tax value close on £IOO,OOO. Then imagine the greatly increased production, and the amount of traffic there would be on the railways more than there is at present. Add to this also the large population that would be consuming dutiable articles. There is no means on earth by which taxation can be reduced in this colony except by compelling companies to cut up their lands and get settlers on them. But, unfortunately, our farmers cannot be brought to see it. They prefer groaning and sweating under their weary load than electing to Parliament men determined to do justice te them.

The Stout-Yogel Government would have done it, but because they proposed it they were thrown out, and now who will dare to threaten the privileges of the money-rings again ? It will be long until wo find a Government having the courage to do it, and, therefore, we have only to grin and bear it.