The Temuka Leder. TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 1891. INJUSTICE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2215, 16 June 1891, Page 2

The Temuka Leder. TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 1891. INJUSTICE.

Thebe are in Timaru three hotels within a chain of each other. One of these the Clarendon is an old wooden house, and some time ago the licensee was warned by the Licensing Committee that he must build a new house or forfeit his license. The licensee had plans prepared and_ a tender was accepted for the erection of a new house, but when the Prohibition agitation arose he deferred proceeding with the work. He came before the Licensing Committee at its last meeting, explained the position, and asked for three months to consider the question, The Committee

refused the application, but gave bio? one month, at the end of which time he must make up his mind to build or forfeit his license. The chairman of the Committee said ha was one who advised Mr Moore not to build, as he did not know but that a Committee might be elected who would “ rob him of it.” This was very kind of the chairman, but no one would have robbed him of it. A Prohibition Committee might have robbed him of his license, but not of his house. And what is this squeamishly honest chairman and his fellow-committeemen doing now ? They are unnecessarily and wantonly driving the man to run the risk, in the elegant language of the chairman, of being “ robbed.” No Prohibition Committee on earth would act ia so tyrannical a manner/ As we have said, one chain away on either side, are two large substantial brick and stone hotels, and about five chains further on are two other large stone and brick hotels. The greatest idiot iu Timaru, therefore, could not be so absolutely and so utterly devoid of sense as to say that the four neigh*, boring houses are not sufficient to accommodate with anything they may require the inhabitants of the locality and such other persons as may frequent the place. Anyone knows that there is not the slightest necessity for more accommodation, and bearing that fact m mind, why is Mr Moore forced into running such a great risk as the expenditure of about £3OOO on the building of a new house? Is not his house good enough to sell drink in, and what more is wanted ? The fact is, the bouse, though old, is not bad at all. There are hundreds of hotels all over, the country in worse condition, and it is nothing short of a shame and a disgrace to force him to spend money on it in the face of the present aspect of affairs. What is it for f Is it because travellers cannot ■find accommodation in Timaru P Certainly not. The object is to compel Mr Moore to build, so that the chairman can say “We compelled Mr Moore to build that house three years ago, and now you are going to rob him of it!” Mr Moore is to be made a scapegoat of, so that he can he held up as a frightful example of the wrongs of Prohibition. This is cruel, tyrannical, and unjust. Iu the face of existing conditions Mr Moore ought not to be disturbed. The public vote decided in favor of the publicans, and they ought to be allowed to profit by it. If Mr Moore is compelled to build, and in three years time his license is taken . away, he will be robbed, and the robbers will be the present Committee who are wantonly and unnneoessarily forcing him into a -position from which it is difficult to escape. No doubt the present Committee want to show that they are doing something. They are, so to speak, “ putting on side.” Here they are foolish again. Their constituents favor the publicans, and the publicans ought to have the benefit of it, for who knows what three years may bring ?

POLITICAL NOTES.

Mr Wigley forfeited his seat in the Upper House, and the Tories are abusing the Government because they will not reappoint him in the face of the fact that they hare net in the Council a single friend. The Government would indeed be very foolish if they did so. The Judges of the Supreme Court disqualified Mr Allen in connection with the Te Aroha election, and the Tories think it very wrong of the Government that they do not reverse the judges’ decision and remove the disqualification. They want the law to be broken for the sake of ene of their pets. The next, thing the Tories will want is that the Liberals shall vacate their seats and allow them to be filled by “ men of culchaw.”

Mr George Fisher, who was kicked out of the Atkinson Ministry for corrupt practices, and who says he will make the present Government expiate the sin of not having appointed him Chairman of Committees, jumped to the fore on the. first moment of the session with an Eight Hours Bill. Wont he pose as a fine working man’s friend. It was because of this, no doubt, that the redoubtable Mr Taylor, of Sydenham, told him be (Mr Fisher) was “impudent,” and brought the Speaker on tep of him. Mr Taylor modified hia assertion by saying he was “ cheeky.” No doubt Mr Taylor, who is another humbug, had an Eight Hours Bill, and felt disgusted at his claim being jumped.

Mr Taylor is taking a very economical view of things. He wants .to know whether the Governor gets the use of the Hinemoa for nothing to travel in, and whether he gets his ball programmes printed by the Government Printer for nothing? This is playing it very low, but the Governor ought not to give grounds for such questions. He gets a large salary, and ought to pay for his printing.

Mr George Eisher will make working men believe he is their friend, or perish in the attempt. Yery possibly he will perish politically. His latest move is to anticipate the policy of the Government, so as to make those ignorant of the facts think he is doing everything. He has moved to take the duty off tea and put it on pianos, etc. There can be no doubt but that he is right. All that is wrong is that he is not sincere. If he were he

would help the Government instead of trying to harass them.

Among papers submitted to Parliament already is correspondence which passed between the Governor and the Secretary of State for the Colonies. In explaining the matter Lord Onalow practically admits that he was misled by the Atkinson Ministry with regard to the recent appointments to the Legislative Council, and says such was the displeasure shown by the public that it is not likely that any Ministry will do such a thing again. Lord Knutsford replies that the Governor did quite right, but declines to offer any opinion as to the action of the Atkinson Government. Practically, the whole thing is a severe condemnation of the action of the late Ministry in making the appointments.

The Eoyal Commission en Native Lands have submitted their report, and they say that for a quarter of a century things have been going from bad to worse, till very little more would render the natives landless. Lawyers of high standing swore that if the Government had desired to create anarchy and confusion they could not have gone about it more thoroughly! Who knows but they did F We know for ,a positive fact that many of them have secured vast estates out of this anarchy and confusion. We know what.the Honorable J. D. Ormond and the Twelve Apostles have secured. Confusion and anarchy enabled them to grab the lands of the natives, and very likely the muddle was made more by design than by mistake. All our laws are in a state of muddle. No law relating to property is based on sound principles, for the very reason that selfinterest always steps in and makes a muddle of things. Our Public Works policy was originally designed so that land improved by railways should pay for the railways. Self-interested landowners threw the clause out, and the burden fell on the shoulders of the people, where it has remained ever since. Self-interest is the ruling passion in Parliament as well as anywhere else, and no doubt it has found its way into the most corrupt quarter of all—-the Native Office.

The Honorable* Eolleston and Bryce occupied a pathetic position in Parliament last Friday The Address-in-Eeply was moved, seconded, and put to the vote, without discussion, when Mr Eolleston beseeched the Premier to adjourn the debate. The Premier saw no reason why the debate should not go on. Mr Bryce made a further appeal, and then moved the adjournment amidst cries from his own party of “Noleader; we have no leader.” All ye sages and sinners, No Leader! and the hero of Parihaka to the fore, as well as “ Her Majesty’s Opposition,” as Mr Eolleston is fend of designating himself in his own high-falutin way. This is “ the moat unkindest cut of all.” To be told up to their very beard that they were not fit to lead was hard on Messrs Eolleston and Bryce, It served them both right. They once belonged to the Liberal side, but they deserted for filthy lucre’s sake. It serves them right now that nobody trusts them.

The Government have at last found a proposer and seconder for the Address-m-Beply in the Legislative Council. Captein Morris and Mr Fharazyn having consented to act as sponsors for it. What we want to know is: Where was Mr Shrimski? where was Mr Launcelot Walker? where was Sir George Whitmore? whom the Liberals have placed in the Council. Are these Liberals no longer? Let this be a warning to the present Government. Without a doubt they must make fresh appointments to the Council, and let them make no mistake this time, but put men there on whom not only the present, but future Liberal Governments can rely. Considering the influence of labor in politics, there is no reason why labor representatives should not be appointed to the Upper House.

The Evening Post and some "Wallington correspondents say that the Land Tax will be on the following scale:— Land £3OOO free; up to £SOOO, Id in the £; £IO,OOO, l£d in the £; £20,000, lid in the £; £50,000, Ifd in the £ ; £IOO,OOO, l|d in the £ ; over £IOO,OOO, l|d in the £, That is £3OOO worth of laud, or a farm of 300 acres worth £lO an acre, will be free from taxation, while all over that will be taxed at one penny in the £ up to £SOOO, After that the tax will be increased at the rate of half a farthing for every £SOOO. If sufficient revenue can be got this will relieve almost all the farmers in this district of taxation altogether, and the Tories who were trying to frighten farmers into resisting a land tax will be dished completely. What will they do now ? The extravagance cry wont do, taxing the poor ground down-farmer wont do. What cry will they be able to get up,

It is most extraordinary the efforts the Tory newspapers are putting forth to create discord in the Government camp, Their whole hope is in Sir George Grey. They hope he will upset matters. It is, however, stated that Sir George Grey has signified his intention of supporting the present Ministry. Indeed it would have been surprising to see him do anything else. The present Government have adopted

almost all his programme, and it would be inconsistent for him to oppose them now. The Government is evidently not only safe, but very strong.

The Opposition is in great trouble. They cannot get a leader to take the place of Sir Harry Atkinson. Mr Rolleston they will not touch with a pitch-fork. Sir John Hall has not a savory record; the scent of the gridiron hangs round him still. The hero of Parihaka is well favored, but a good many are opposed to him. Captain Russell is in good demand amongst them, but the consensus of opinion is that Mr Bryce will be the man.