TO THE WORKING MEN OF WELLINGTON.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3111, 31 January 1871, Page 2

TO THE WORKING MEN OF WELLINGTON.

(PBE FAVOR OF THE EDITOR.) ]?BliLOw3bttlehs, — Among thebuits thrown out to catch your votes, is one at which, some of you nitty feel strongly disposed to nibble. It is — Lund on deferred payments. It is quite possible to devise a scheme by which land may be placed within the reach of working men upon terms of deferred payments. But to prevent a measure of this kind from being converted into an instrument of corruption, the working of it should be in the hunds of trustees, independent of the Government of the day. What you hare to guard against is, systematic dealing with the Government for land on deferred payments. Experience teaches us that the machinery for such an object would be readily convertible into a means of extending Government influence. Time for payment might be given for any reason, but the true one to those who were active in supporting Government, while those who were outspokon and unsparing in their remarks about Government (which we all at times like to be) would find their payments exacted with rigid punctuality. How such uiatterß work in general, may be gathered from the influence which the promissory notes of emigrants to this province exercised upon its politics. Well or 411-founded, there was a current impression that those debtors who wero civil and obliging to the Government in the matter of their votes, had easy times allowed them, while on the other hand, those who rode rusty, and would not be led when required, were made to pay. It its not here meant to assert that the debts of the immigrants wero deliberately used as a means of corruption, but. only that there was a general expectation of fuvor in means used for their recovery on the part of those of the debtors who possessed the franchise, and wero willing to exert it in favor of the Provincial Government. One of the candidates has seen scores of electors so circumstanced, marching to the poll two and two, like mournors at a funeral. In order that any such scheme should work well, some persona acquainted with what, has been done in this direction in the way of Small Purm Settlements, should be consulted. No such scheme will be successful in which those who are to benefit by it fail to put their own shoulder to the wheel. Trust no vague promises. Insist upon havingaschemo ; and bear in mind that if a well devised scheme for the sale of land on deferred pnymonts protected against the possibility of its being used us a menns of Government' influence, were presented to the consideration of Parliament, no Government would bo able successfully to resist its introduction. Common Sbnse.