Satisfactory, and Smart Enough.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2092, 15 July 1887, Page 2

Satisfactory, and Smart Enough.

Ub Buohauam has now mad* his bow to the electors of the districts of Carterton, Grey town, Featherston, and Martinboroogh, and the meetings in all these places were most decided successes. Between eleven hum dred and twelve hundred persons hare accorded him a patient, courteous and attentive hearing, and Mr Beehanan has no causa to repine at the reception he has received, and, judging by these receptions and other circumstances, we have every reason to suppose that bis constituents will show their unimpaired confidence in their representative by again placing him triumphantly at the bead of the poll. There was an utter absence of pretension or striving after effect in Ur Buchanan's addresses, which were those of a level headed, business-like man, who having thoroughly mastered his subjects, could lucidly convey his meaning to his audience, and who wonld rather lose his seat than make any pretence of promising more than he eonld perform or appearing other than he really is. • I a

Ur Buchanan at the outset of his speeches alluded to the difficulties the Government bad placed in the way of the Representation Bill which was really only carried by the strenuous exertions of the Pppoaition ; be complained that the Premier bad departed from his pledges regarding reduction in the number of members, and pledged himself to use bis utmost endeavors to bring about a reduction to 71 members. He severely but accurately criticised the financial position, showed that the Government so-called savings were a sham and a delusion, and that there was an actual deficiency of £325,0011, which the Government of " leaps and bounds ” proposed to smuggle out of sight in the bandbox of increased taxation. Mr Buchanan carefully proved his statements by an elaborate analysis of figures which, if not showy, were remarkably convincing. He alluded, moreover, to the personal extravagance of Ministers in the matter of residences, ling allowances, and the rest. * » •

Mr Buchanan exposed the weakness of the assertion now put forward by a portion cl I'm Ministry, viz., that tho true '(Uostion botor,, the country wits one of IV-tvcticn versus snowing that, r,;i Kir Uobut HUr:: 1 ,vac n oo'b-U—vU Fro .'trader, this cry ii n I raised i,; on nljct.oK Ktii.'k, Mot ■j. i>-<ied out that Hot 2eaiaui van iiu it j «ftic-.rede country, sad sJtotsga hoLiweib iuj : i Fioctra-h-' ho > ould fever pvt tv.-‘.lor. o', .out industries wnere accessary fed tb i aniutteu imeountiou ot i-av inttiirßle i,. ; (U’i. jd tor ‘rase indus'i-si- wlu-th couh, j ml lie piu4 iced in the coder. At 1m even irr.c, by ..■:!crruf“ to sic.istius oih , countries, ho sha' rigid JVot,\ ; j lieu i'.'tu not h.-cn the meaur of iiimjmp j,, j it- tnii, tb (■: ’-I -hi-b ! u,. 5 .. j

no® iV t-.ttien ’’ :-a I c;Hi’! i. Ur •;!!• -fii |‘in object •’ «'o.v•' be -x l /.’.., i

population and not to increase cities at expense oi country districts. The teal question, be declared, was not Protection versus ifreetrade, but whether we would, under the name of Protection, humbly submit to greatly increased taxation. As regards removing taxation from tea and sugar, be asked bow we were to make up the deficiency ; if, as some stated, by a land tax, that would bring some £IOO,OOO only, if taxed at the prarie value. If taxed at any other value the tax ceased to be a land tax.

Mr Buchanan declared himself strongly in favor of retrenchment, and bis ideas thereon were thoroughly practical and liberal. He would commence at the top of the tree and prune downwards. He further declared himself in favor of railway reform and the abolition of that curse of all countries—political patronage. He alluded to the absurdity of our present system of so-called defence. As regards our present system of education ho acknowledged his unwillingness to interfere with that, if possible to leave it intact, although he would abaudon secondary education to its fate could it be proved that the children of the well-to-do reaped the advantages and the children of the poor did not. Nevertheless, he points out possible economies in the system, and declared the North Island should be put on the same footing with regard to educational reserves as the South.

Mr Buchanan denounced the excessive borrowing into which the country had been plunged by Sir Julius Vogel, and pointed out that the largest sources of revenue were hypothecated to pay interest on loans. It

would, he said, be impossible to cease bor. rowing, in toto, but he would only support those public works which would be of a strictly remunerative character.

A claim was made, and Justly, by Mr Buchanan, that he had done his utmost to snpport settlement of the land both by leasehold and freehold tenures. The StoutVogel Government had endeavored to thrust aside freehold tenure and had thereby done great injury by discouraging settlement. He felt certain, however, that the people of this country would insist that freehold was the best tenure. The speaker admitted he had not been a supporter of the present Government ; lucidly and vigoroslny defended hie opposition to that Government, pointing out the extravagance of Sir Julius Vogel’s theories and practice. Mr John Bryce, whose name on every oeoasion elicited the warmest applause, waa mentioned by Mr Bnohanan aa that of one he wonld gladly aee hold a proper and prominent position in the Councils of the country, and whom, in such capacity, he would warmly support. In conclusion, we have only to say that Mr Bnohanan’a addresses seem thoroughly to have satisfied the reason of his numerous audiences, and, if (bat be any criterion of worth, we are enre that the electors will endorse our headline by declaring that Mr Buchanan ia both satisfactory and “ smart ” enough to represent the important oonstitno eney of Wairarapa South in the next Parliament. Of this we are certain that whether successful or the reverse Mr Bnohanan will retain (he esteem of the electors, and his warm interest in all that concerns (he district. As wc have before said—-Away with fear or favor and let ti.e best man win.