HALL JONES ON THE STUMP

West Coast Times, Issue 105335, 20 July 1897, Page 4

HALL JONES ON THE STUMP

(To the Editor). ' Sir, — It is quite refreshing to read the remarks of the Hon. Hall-Jones, recently delivered at New Plymouth, on the many virtues of the Government of the day, of which he is a member and no doubt drawing the substantial one thousaud pounds a year as honorarium. Ac cording to this shining light the Government is simply perfection, and the condition of the country prosperous beyond all doubt. The people of New Plymouth must certainly be open to flattery, and HallJones evidently " buttered " them up nicely with his congratulations on the pretroleurri oil prospects, the vast strides made in the dairying industry, and the fact that they had no bloated land owners in the district. At any rate, his " oily " tongue drew forth, (according to press report) a unanimous vote of confidence in the Government, and thanks to himself for the evening's entertainment — no doubt, the good folks of Taianaki slumbered peacefully that night, after expressing such unbounded satisfaction in the Government, and the genius who had addressed them.

Now let us see how the " buttering up " applies outside of New Plymouth. The prosperity of the Colony to wit. Let us exercise our memories a tittle bit, and see what the Government has done towards all this assumed prosperity, during their term of office. Unfortunately for them the greatest commercial and banking scandals have occurred during their administration. They certainly claim credit for having averted a great banking crisis, by pledging the credit of the country for many millions, laying the burdens upon the taxpayer in the meantime, and embarking in a dangerous experiment in finance, which may yet involve the country, owing to the ha3ty and unsatisfactory negotiations entered into. The history of the transactions are too recent to require repetition. The mixing up of one of the former members of the administration i'l one of the greatest commercial scandals of the day is another serious matter for consideration, although, no doubt, the Bankruptcy court will reveal the truth, and justify the chief actor, as against his so-called, political martyrdom, or prove him to be a spotless victim of misiortune, or otherwise.

The Hon. Hall- Jones, before he next addresses the simple-minded public, should enquire from the unfortunate shareholders, of the 'Bank of New Zealand,' • Colonial Bank,' ' N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.,' 'J. G. Ward Farmer's Association, ' — certain 'Insurance Cos and others — whether the Colony is prosperous, or not. The answer I apprehend, would be such as to be unmistakable and calculated to shock the BallJones' sensitive nerve 9, especially if he dissected the many adjectives accompanying it.

He should also enquire in the large centres as to the great prosperity of the Colony. I venture to assert that commerce has neyer before been conducted on keener competitive principles, under an oppressive and unnatural protective policy. It only requires to peruse the present tariff to perceive — the life drain now being applied to the people—everything being taxed up to j the hilt, under the revision of the present Government. And with regard to real property— a stagnation exists which is perfectly appalling in a young country , like this, in a great measure due to the reckless legislation respecting it, and the intemperate denunciation of property holders by the Government of the day. The feeling of unrest and doubt is universal {throughout the Colony. Truly the result of the Socialist's tendencies oE would-be statesmen and ignorant men.

The everlasting cry of "settle the people on the land "is so much claptrap —because no attempt is made to sestle the people on the land, unless it is preceded by the purchase jof large estates for the purpose, involving the expenditure of hundreds of thousands of pounds, whilst there are millions of acres of waste lands of the Crown lying idle. But, of course, it is nios to handle the money, and very nice to get a bargain— as evidenced in many cases— the ' Bushy Park ' estate uot being the only one that afford a study of this nature, apart from brokerage considerations, as wall, and thf. direct and indirect agencies at work, and thereby benefitted. The outcome or a truly "Liberal" policy, and it? many lat est ad van tages .

Prosperity indeed ! -Tim dintriet alone presents a picture — Hundreds of urifortunate men working ou a Governing) t co-operative experiment at starvation wages— A system of sweating the laboring classes which is a disgrace co New

P?alaiid— Strong able-bodied men earning barely the necessaries of life, and yet we find ' oily tongued ' and ' brazen faced ' Ministers of the Crown applauding thsiv own works, whilst they are squeezing the life blood out of honest labor. How much longer are the people going to be befooled, is a question that may well be asked

The only prosperity that has been enjoyed in the Colony has been at Auckland — due, not to the Government, but tc the persQveraacq o£ energy ea .

terprising men. — However, some of the Ministry soon were found in business there, having sniffed out the tempting morsels.

It is nevertheless deplorable, that the mining industry, which is capable of lifting the Colony out of a state of heavy depression is entirely neglected. The one cry of the Premier himself being the virtues of his Government and the purity of his administration. To sum up the whole thing — the country is simply being deluded by hollow promises, shams, and all the artifices of a self-seeking, office holding, and leather longed Ministry. The sooner the people awake from their lethargy and throw off the oppressive yoke the sooner will real prosperity again be apparent. At present it is but a mockery, despite the humbug and cant of Hall-Jones and his Ministerial colleagues. I ami etc., M.