THE RETRENCHMENT ROAR.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2527, 20 September 1888, Page 3

THE RETRENCHMENT ROAR.

TO TIIE EDITOR. Sir,—Now that we have proof positive that the memlers of the House of Representatives do not intend to assist 113 to retrench in anything like an adequate manner commensurate with the overburdened state of the country, I think it is high time the taxpayers awoke from the lethargic state in which they have passed some years, and looked for some other and better method of being represented. I am not one of those that believe in crying " stinking fish," but when the " fish" does stink to such an exteut that the perfume is wafted all over the world, it is useless trying to disguise the fact, and the best thing to be done is to bury the noxious carcase as soon as possible. I hat is what wants doing with perhaps one or two exceptions to our present representatives ; bury them in oblivion, and as a carcase that is buried helps to manure the ground and render it more fruitful, so may the interment of these gentlemen act as a salutary warning to our future legislators and cause them to pause ere they embark in lug-rolling for their own interests. I think it is an indisputable fact that New Zealand has more natural resources than any other country in the known world, and yet we are the poorest. We have abundance of valuable timber, a great quantity of which is being wasted every venr ! our mineral wealth is unlimited, we have had the richest goldmine (the Caledonia) ever known, and yet we are poorer than before it was found ; we have land that can hold its own with any, for where else is there land that will carry from 70 to 00 bushels of maize to the acre for nearly 20 years without a single ounce of manure being put upon it, as I am informed is the case at Opotild? We have every species of climate from silt-tropical to a ' mos ' fri«id ; beautiful scenery, wonderful hot sprines. and indeed every blessing that the Almighty can shower upon 11s, and yet it is all lost through the mismanagement of the Government. What have our members dor.e during the last session ? Nothing! What use are they. None! What do they go for? The honorarium ! That is where the shoe pinches. They ate perfectly willins to retrench anyone but themselves, and consequently it remains for the electors to do that. I for one—and there are many others like me—do not believe in paying onr representatives, it keeps the country in a continual state of ferment, for every man that can "spout" a little looks forward to getting into the House, and if he should succeed, he immediately looks out for a good fat billet and does not care a hang whit becomes of the country. If, on the contrary, he does not succeed, for the next three years he is continually agitating for some new scheme —110 matter how absurd—that will give him a show at the next election. I believe, Sir, that if we were to send twenty good unpaid men, who would do the work for the honour and glory, that it would be done in a much better manner (it could not be worse), and that we should soon have matters put on a sound footing, and further, I believe that twenty good upright men arc to be found in the colony, who would undertake the task, and do'.it in a manner that would cause the present ninety paid members to blush, i.e., if they have a blush left in them, which I very much doubt. Of course, the political agitators will say. "This will never do. It shuts out the workinsr man." But to the working man I would say, "be shut out, and don't help to pay any more loafers. They do not care a rap about you, all that they want is to get your vote, so that they can pocket the honorarium." There are several other methods of retrenchment nearer home that I should like to bring uMer yoitV notice, but this epistle is already tod lengthy for which accept my apology,—Yours truly, Mom us, Cambridge. September 18th, 138 S.